BROWX-TAIL. MOTII. Euproctis chrysorrhaa L. 



ORIGINATION AND SPREAD 



The original home of the Brown- Tail Moth is Europe where it is a common and well known 

 insect. It was introduced into the United States about 1890 on nursery stock imported from Europe 

 and became established in the eastern part of Massachusetts. It was recognized as an important 

 pest in 1897, since which time it has appeared throughout eastern Massachusetts, in one half of 

 New Hampshire, along the coast of Maine, and in part of New Brunswick. It has also spread into 

 the Connecticut Valley and Rhode Island. The moths fly great distances by night and the spread 

 is greatest with the prevailing winds. 



The Brown-Tail Moth has not become established in New York so far as known, but thousands 

 of nests containing young caterpillars have been found on imported seedlings from France. Over 

 7,000 nests in 1909 and 3,500 in 1910 were collected and burned by agents of the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture. 



PLANTS PREFERRED AND EXTENT OF INJURY 



The caterpillars of this insert are very destructive of fruit, shade and forest trees. They prefer 

 to feed on pear, apple and other fruit trees, and the maple, birch and oak; but they also thrive 

 on a great variety of deciduous trees and plants, including roses and our common thorns and shrubs. 



PRIVATE EXPENDITURES AND PUBLIC APPROPRIATIONS 



Since 1897, when the Brown-Tail Moth was recognized as a serious pest, the laws and appro- 

 priations for its suppression have been included with those for the Gipsy Moth. The private ex- 

 penditures and public appropriations for fighting these two moths now exceed $7,000,000. 



LIFE HISTORY 

 Drawing and coloring under the direction of P. J . Parrott and A. F. Burgess 



The Brown-Tail Moth appears in different parts of the year as follows: 



I. Egg clusters on the under side of leaves during July and August. The eggs are deposited 



in elongated brown masses of two hundred to four hundred eggs (Fig. i). 



II. Caterpillars appear the latter part of August or first of September (Fig. 2). They draw leaves 

 together with webs and make nests usually about half the size of one's fist, where they 

 remain protected until spring (Fig. 3). The caterpillars in the spring are from one-quarter 

 to one-half inch in length (Fig. 4). They feed on opening buds and leaves, causing part or 

 complete defoliation of the trees. They continue to grow until the last of June. (Fig. 5 

 shows mature caterpillars.) The fine hairs of the mature caterpillar are barbed in such 

 manner that when they come in contact with the flesh an annoying irritation follows, the 

 so-called Brown-Tail Itch. The caterpillars are so abundant and disgusting that they have 

 driven people from their homes. Property values in residential districts depreciate where vtr 

 they become established. 



III. Cocoons are spun among the leaves the last of June or first of July. (Fig. 6 shows pupa re- 

 moved from its cocoon.) 



IV. Moths appear early in July. They are white, with a conspicuous tuft of golden or brownish 

 hairs at the tip of the abdomen. (Fig. 7 shows female moth.) 



REMEDIES 



Collect the winter nests from October to April and burn them. This is the most efficient and 

 practical means of combating the insect. Spray trees during early May and in August with arsenate 

 of lead at the rate of five pounds to fifty gallons of water. Band uninfested trees with a sticky 

 substance to prevent ascent of caterpillars. 



Specimens of any suspected insects si aid be securely packed and sent by mail with name and 

 address of sender, to the Department of Agriculture, Albany, N. Y., for identification. 



R. A. PEARSON. 



Commissioner of Agriculture 

 January 16, 1911 



