20 



The Gypsy Moth 

 Ocneria dispar 



Fortunately this notorious insect, which our Massachusetts 

 neighbors are striving hard to subdue, has not yet been found 

 in New Hampshire. It is sincerely to be hoped that it may 

 never be found here ; but as we are so near the infested terri- 

 tory it seems' worth while to include in this connection a brief 

 notice of the pest. 



The Gypsy moth is one of the most troublesome insects in 



Europe. It feeds on an extraor- 

 dinary variety of plants, attacking 

 almost everything, and is difficult 

 to destroy by natural or artificial 

 means. As is well known it was 

 introduced into the vicinity of 

 \ Boston twenty-five years ago, and 

 Fig. 15. Gypsy Moth. Male, has since become very destructive 

 in that region. In 1891 the legislature of Massachusetts estab- 

 lished a commission for the extermination of the insect, and 

 has since appropriated a large amount of money to carry on 

 the work, which has already checked the outbreak to a remark- 

 able degree. It is much to be hoped that the work will be con- 

 tinued unabated for several years. 



There is an idea somewhat prevalent that this insect could be 

 exterminated by 

 importing para- 

 sites, but this is 

 fallacious. In my 

 opinion it would 

 be a great mis- 

 take to abandon 

 the work of ex- 

 termination and 

 leave it to be 



done by para- 



TT 1 ^1 Fig. 16. Gypsy Moth. Female. 



Sites. Under the ^^ •' 



most favorable conditions there could only result a long series 



