1924 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 33 



Work was again resumed by the state of Massachusetts in order to control 

 the insect. The territory infested had increased from 200 to over 2,200 square 

 miles, and it was soon found that the insect was present in eastern New Hamp- 

 shire and in Rhode Island. Native natural enemies during the period when no 

 field work was done had failed to increase and data collected from 1905 to 1907 

 was very similar to that secured from 1890 to 1900. The wilt disease was more 

 prevalent, however, particularly in heavy infestations where overcrowding and 

 shortage of food occurred. 



The brown-tail moth, a European insect which was discovered in the suburbs 

 of Boston in 1897, became extremely abundant and destructive by 1905 and field 

 control and the introduction of natural enemies was attempted as a part of the 

 gipsy moth work. 



Beginning in 1905 an effort was made to import the natural enemies of the 

 gipsy moth from Europe and Japan. This was arranged as a co-operative project 

 between the State of Massachusetts and the U.S. Bureau of Entomology and 

 later this project was turned over to the Bureau. 



It was organized in Europe by Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief of the Bureau of 

 Entomology, who secured the co-operation of many prominent European entom- 

 ologists, and under their direction various parasites and predatory insects were 

 shipped to Massachusetts. 



During the next few years considerable material was sent as a result of this 

 arrangement, and a number of experts were sent abroad by the Bureau to obtain 

 parasites of the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth. 



Mr. W. F. Fiske spent two seasons on this work, most of his collections 

 being made in Italy. He was assisted during one season by W. R. Thompson, 

 Harry S. Smith and L. H. Worthley. The latter spent a good share of his time 

 in Germany. Professor Trevor Kincaid spent one summer each in Japan and 

 Russia on similar work. As a result of arrangements which he made with 

 Japanese entomologists, it was possible to introduce Schedius kuvance, sl parasite 

 of the gipsy moth eggs. Dr. J. N. Summers continued the parasite work in 

 Germany during the summer of 1914. The work was interrupted during the 

 war but was resumed in 1922, Mr. S. S. Crossman carrying on work in European 

 countries, particularly in Germany, and Dr. Summers similar work in Japan. 

 The latter returned to Japan in 1923 and Messrs. Crossman and R. T. Webber 

 took up work in Germany, extending operations to Spain, Austria, Hungary and 

 Poland. 



As a result of all these operations many parasites of the gipsy moth have 

 been shipped to Massachusetts. Some of the most noteworthy were large ship- 

 ments of Chalets flavipes and Apanteles melanoscelas that were sent by Fiske from 

 Italy, and a large number of Tachinid puparia that was secured by Crossman 

 and Webber in Austria during the present year and Apanteles fulvipes shipped 

 by Summers from Japan. A large percentage of the material from Austria was 

 Parasetigena segregata, a species that has not yet become established in America. 

 Of the large shipments sent by Fiske, Chalets flavipes has not become established, 

 while Apanteles melanoscelus is increasing satisfactorily in the infested region. 

 Apanteles fulvipes has been colonized but whether it will survive and increase is 

 problematical. Other parasites together with the predaceous beetle, Calosoma 

 sycophanta, were received from European collectors and some of them have 

 become firmly established. 



The accompanying chart indicates species that have been imported and 

 those that have become established. 



2 E.S. 



