[NSECTS 189 



The pupa. When the caterpillars have changed to pupae in- 

 closed by their cocoons, — in which state they are most numerous 

 the latter half of June, — they may be gathered and placed in a 

 barrel covered with mosquito netting, which confines the moths 

 but allows the escape of parasites. The work of gathering these 

 cocoons is likely to be attended by severe inflammation of the 

 skin from contact with the nettling hairs. 



The moth. As already pointed out, the moths assemble in great 

 numbers around electric and other lights. During the flying season 

 lamp posts are frequently covered with hundreds, if not thousands, 

 of them, which can be washed down and killed by the free use 

 of the hose. 



Natural enemies of the brown-tail moth. The brown-tail moth 

 has natural enemies in the fungus Entomopthora aidicce, in various 

 parasites, and in the Calosoma beetles. The fungous disease has 

 been found to occur in this country naturally, and has also been 

 propagated and spread artificially. The parasites and beetles have 

 been planted throughout the most thickly infested sections and 

 are spreading naturally. 



Gypsy moth. As far back as authentic records go, the gypsy 

 moth has been a destructive insect pest in Europe ■ — at times in- 

 creasing enormously and disastrously, then for other periods decreas- 

 ing, only to increase again and renew its extensive ravages. At the 

 present time it is most numerous and destructive in southern Russia. 



Up to the year 1868 a gypsy moth was not known to exist 

 anywhere within the Western Hemisphere. In that year the insect 

 was brought from Europe to Medford, Massachusetts. Escaping, 

 it spread into many cities and towns of eastern Massachusetts, and 

 increased enormously, until in 1890 it became a serious pest over 

 a large territory. 



Damage caused by the gypsy moth. The gypsy-moth caterpillar 

 will attack all fruit, shade, and woodland trees. It shows a pref- 

 erence for the apple, white oak, red oak, willow, and elm. It will 

 devour on occasion nearly every useful grass, plant, flower, shrub, 

 vine, bush, garden or field crop that grows in Massachusetts. It 

 kills both deciduous and coniferous trees, but in its early molts 

 will not feed on pines. Woodlands assailed by it in formidable 

 numbers are stripped bare and many trees are killed. Where it 



