FOOD PLANTS OP THE GIPSY MOTH IN" AMERICA. 21 



Shingle Oak {Quercus imbricaria Michx.). 



This oak is a favored food for gipsy-moth larvae, especially after the first 

 stage. A good proportion of male and female moths were reared. 

 No field observations were made on this species. 



Swamp White Oak {Quercus bicolor Willd.). 



The feeding in the trays was not quite as free on this species as on some of the 

 oaks, but a fair percentage of adults were reared. 



The field observers do not all agree as to the favorability of the species, as 

 some consider it the most favored oak, while others find that it is not preferred 

 as much as other oaks. 



White Oak {Quercus alba L.). 



This species does not put out foliage until after the other oaks and other 

 trees in the combinations have come into leaf. The larvae feed on the swelling 

 buds, and many desert this species for the red, black, and scarlet oaks. This 

 accounts for the early stripping of the other species. 



Tray work and field observations show that the white oak is probably the 

 most favored food plant of the gipsy moth. 



Osage Orange (Toxylon pomifemm [Raf.]). 



Tray experiments with this species show it is not a favored food. No pupae 

 were obtained and but few larvae reached the second stage. 

 No field observations were made. 



Pear (Pyrus communis L.). 



Pear foliage will sustain life in the gipsy-moth larvae and carry them through 

 to the adult, as shown by Mr. Collins's experiments at Worcester, but the 

 larvae and adults were very small and weak. 



In the field but very little feeding has been noted on this foliage. 



Persimmon {Diospyros virginiana L.). 



This is not a favorable food plant, as but very few larvae passed from one stage 

 to the next stage, and growth was very slow. 

 No field observations. 



Pitch Pine {Pinus rigida Mill.). 



In the tray experiments no adults were obtained from larvae started before 

 the fourth stage, but from this stage both male and female moths were 

 produced. 



In the field the observers note feeding by the fourth, fifth, and sixth stage 

 larvae when pitch pine is growing with gray birch. The feeding is mostly 

 confined to the old needles, the new growth seldom being attacked. 



Red Pine {Pinus resinosa Ait.). 



In the tray work with this species almost no feeding was observed until 

 larvae in the third stage were placed upon It. These, however, did not live 

 beyond the fourth stage. The feeding was done by eating notches in the old 

 needles. 



In the field, larvae were seen to feed upon red pine from the third to the 

 sixth stages. In the last three stages they sometimes cause severe stripping. 



