GIPSY MOTH WORK IN" NEW ENGLAND. 7 



flies emerging early in July. One or more broods may follow 

 before cold weather in case native larvae are at hand to serve as 

 hosts. 



A species of Apanteles (A. melanoscelis Ratz.), which was received 

 in small numbers from Italy in the summer of 1912, was liberated 

 near the laboratory at Melrose Highlands, Mass. It is double-brooded, 

 both generations being passed on gipsy-moth caterpillars. This 

 species has maintained itself since its introduction and promises to 

 be a most valuable addition to the enemies of the gipsy moth. It 

 has not been imported or recovered in sufficient numbers from the 

 colony liberated in this country so that other colonies could be 

 established, but is considered a very valuable species. 



The Calosoma beetle (C. sycophanta L.) (PL IV), while not strictly 

 a parasite, is at the present time doing more effective work against 

 the gipsy moth than any single introduced species. This large 

 green beetle hibernates in the ground during the winter and emerges 

 about the first of June. It feeds on the caterpillars and pupae of 

 the gipsy moth and brown-tail moth, as well as on such native spe- 

 cies as it may find. These beetles climb trees and are continuously 

 searching for food. They live two or three years and after mid- 

 summer burrow into the ground where they remain during the winter. 

 On the average, 100 eggs are deposited in the ground annually by 

 each female. The beetle larvae hatch in about a week. They are 

 proficient tree climbers and feed constantly on the caterpillars and 

 pupae of the gipsy moth or other insects until they become full grown 

 about the middle of July. This species has increased and spread 

 hi a most satisfactory manner, and has made great inroads on the 

 gipsy moth in many localities. Both the beetles and the larvae attack 

 the caterpillars of the brown-tail moth, so that double benefit results. 



Another parasite, one which attacks the brown-tail moth only, 

 is a hymenopteron known as Meteorus versicolor Wesm. It has 

 become well established, but is seldom found in great numbers. 

 It is possible that this species may increase rapidly later on, but 

 at the present time it does not appear to be as beneficial as those 

 that have previously been mentioned. Several species of introduced 

 tachinid flies are recovered occasionally, but in such small numbers 

 as to indicate that they are not at the present time doing effective 

 work. 



An enormous amount of careful study and a large number of 

 detailed experiments have been carried on in order to determine the 

 life histories, habits, and utility of the different species which have 



kbeen introduced. It has been necessary from time to time to develop 

 new methods of handling these species in order to get the data 

 desired, and practically all the equipment and breeding devices 



