124 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



moths soon emerge, mate and the eggs are deposited and remain 

 on the trees during the winter. 



REMEDIES. 



The female is wingless and always attaches her eggs to her 

 empty cocoon, hence the insect does not readily spread from tree 

 to tree. The caterpillars sometimes wander when their food 

 supply is gone, or are accidently carried from tree to tree, or eggs 

 are introduced on young trees. From the nature of the insect it 

 it is not usually very injurious but sometimes does great damage 

 to the leaves of apple trees and also gnaws the surface of the fruit. 

 Though partial to the apple tree it also feeds on the plum, pear 

 cherry, rose, and occasionally on the elm, maple, horse chest- 

 nut, linden, oak, locust, butternut, black walnut, hickory, spruce, 

 fir, larch and other plants. The orchard should be examined dur- 

 ing the winter months for leaves attached to the branches and if 

 they contain egg clusters collect and burn them. Any cocoons 

 without egg clusters should not be molested, as they probably con- 

 tain parasites of this pest and should be protected. Mr. Saunders 

 says that nine different species of parasites, four and two winged 

 flies, are known to prey upon this insect in the caterpillar state. 



THE FALL WEB- WORM. 



Hyphantria cunea, Drury. (H. textor, Harris.) 



While in Cumberland County, Me. last season attention was 

 directed to an orchard badly infested by this insect. Though it 

 was only July 5th, the webs were already quite conspicuous. In 

 Forest Insects, just issued from the Dept. of Agric, Dr. Packard, 

 on p. 24.4 says: "Tbe name Fall Web-Worm is most expressive 

 for New England and other northern states where the insect is single 

 brooded, appearing there during August and September, while in 

 more southern regions it is double brooded." Though we have 

 not traced this insect through its life history in Maine and cannot 

 positively say there are two broods, yet the fact that the webs 

 were conspicuous and the larva? fully three-fourths of an inch 

 long early in July would indicate two broods in western Maine. 

 A few webs were observed about Orono during the fall months, 

 probably those of the second brood or late single brood. 



This is a native insect which has from time to time done great 

 damage to forest and fruit trees. It is a general feeder, having 



