FOOD PLANTS OF THE GIPSY MOTH I1ST AMERICA, 7 



Mountain Ash (Pyrus americana [Marsh.] D.C.). 



No observations were made on this species by the field men. 



Tray experiments for a single season at Worcester were not conclusive, but 

 the results at Melrose Highlands indicated that larvae will feed continuously on 

 this plant from the first stage and reproduce normally. 



Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.). 



But few field observations were obtained on this species, and those were to 

 the effect that gipsy-moth larvae do not feed on red ash. 



All larval stages from the first to the fourth, inclusive, were tested at the 

 Melrose Highlands laboratory, but no pupae were obtained. 



When the blossoms were placed with the foliage in the trays, there was con- 

 siderable feeding on the former but the leaves were not injured. 



White Ash {Fraxinus americana L.). 



This most common species of Fraxinus has been noted by all the field observers, 

 but none reported feeding on the foliage by gipsy-moth larvae except where other 

 species of trees are nearly or wholly defoliated. Even then there was little 

 feeding in most cases. Mr. Proctor reports that branches on several trees of 

 this species were completely stripped in an area badly defoliated by the gipsy 

 moth. 



White ash was tested in 1912 both at Worcester and Melrose Highlands. 

 At the former laboratory, the larva? from the first to the fifth stages, inclusive, 

 produced no pupae. At Melrose Highlands trays started with fourth-stage 

 larva? produced male moths only. 



Flame Azalea {Azalea lutea L.) and White Azalea (Azalea viscosa L.). 



Mr. Schaffner had the former species under observation and found that 

 wherever it was situated in badly infested localities feeding on the foliage was 

 rather heavy. This foliage will probably sustain the gipsy-moth larvae in all 

 stages, but the tray work at Melrose Highlands failed to bring them through 

 from either the first or second stages. From two trays started with third- 

 stage larvae, male moths were secured. 



There was practically no difference in the amount of feeding on these two 

 species. 



Eukopean Bakberey (Berberis vulgaris L.). 



Barberry has been under observation in the field, and all the observers have 

 found gipsy-moth larvae in all stages feeding upon it. It is not considered a 

 particularly favored food, as larva?, feeding upon it seemed quite susceptible to 

 disease. 



The species will support the larvae in all stages, adults having been reared 

 from trays started with first-stage caterpillars. 



Baybeeey (Myrica carolinensis Mill.). 



In sparsely infested territory, feeding on this species is light, but when the 

 infestation is heavy these shrubs are sometimes completely defoliated. 



Reproduction has been satisfactory when small caterpillars have been tested 

 in the trays. 



