GIPSY MOTH WORK IN NEW ENGLAND. 11 



specimens, an average of 20 per cent of parasitism by Compsilura 

 was found to exist. Several large single colonies showed a degree 

 of parasitism ranging from 40 to 50 per cent. The results secured 

 with this species during the summer of 1914, based on the number of 

 parasites obtained from the collections, indicate that the distribution 

 of this insect is more likely to be local than general, since in areas 

 where it was abundant in the summer of 1913 it was recovered in 

 very small numbers in 1914, in spite of the fact that a moderate 

 infestation was present during the latter year. 



Apanteles melanoscelis, a species already referred to, is showing 

 considerable promise. As high as 19 per cent of the second stage 

 gipsy moth larvae collected at Melrose Highlands during the summer 

 of 1914 were parasitized. This species was recovered from two new 

 towns this year, namely, Stoneham and Saugus. 



Considerable additional data have been secured from other imported 

 parasites which have been colonized in this country and have sur- 

 vived in more or less numbers. The details are not given, however 

 inasmuch as it has not been demonstrated thus far that they are of 

 particular value as parasites of either the gipsy moth or the brown-tail 

 moth. 



Pteromalus egregius Forst. has been recovered in small numbers 

 from many parts of the territory infested by the brown-tail moth. 

 The larva of this insect works as an external parasite of the small 

 brown-tail moth caterpillars in the webs. Monodontomerus aereus 

 Walk., a parasite of gipsy and brown-tail moth pupse, is known to 

 occur throughout most of the area infested by these insects. It has 

 been reared in small numbers from tachinid puparia and undoubt- 

 edly has other unrecorded hosts. 



Calosoma sycophanta has been found during the summer of 1914 

 over a much wider area than that previously recorded (PI. VII). 

 Owing to the ease with which the beetles and their larvas could be 

 collected in the field it has been possible to liberate 37 colonies in 

 New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 

 These were placed outside the area where the species was previously 

 known to occur. In addition, colonies of Calosoma have been liber- 

 ated in Maine and New Hampshire by State officials. Colonies have 

 been liberated in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec as a 

 result of collections made by Mr. McLaine and his assistants, and 

 1,700 specimens were collected by Mr. H. E. Smith and forwarded 

 to Koehler, N. Mex., to test their value as an enemy of the range 

 caterpillar. 1 



i This work was carried on by arrangement with Mr. F. M. Webster, who is in charge of the Cereal 

 and Forage Crop Insect Investigations of the Bureau of Entomology. 



