REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I904 383 



control the insect, and in the vicinity of Maiden it is stated that 

 an oak forest of some 2000 acres, practically cleared of the moth 

 when the work was suspended in 1900, was completely defoliated, 

 and from what was seen the statement is entirely credible. Many 

 acres of woodland were stripped practically clean of foliage and 

 in several places a large nilmber of trees had succumbed, and 

 other areas were observed where the forest growth had evidently 

 been cleared off because of previous injuries by the gipsy moth 

 larvae. Many males and females were observed at the time of 

 our visit, together with numerous egg clusters, though some larvae 

 were present in certain places and there were many pupae. Large 

 numbers of the infested trees were literally plastered about the 

 base with moths and egg clusters, and adjacent stones and other 

 objects were similarly ornamented. 



Thepreselit distribution of the gipsy moth, so far as known, includes 

 practically all of the territory given in the latest maps published 

 by those engaged in the work, and in addition, colonies are known 

 to occur in Billerica and Newton, which seem to be the western- 

 most points, and in Bridgewater and Scituate, the southernmost 

 extension of the insect with the exception of the colony in and 

 about Providence R. I. A most serious aspect of the situation is, 

 that some of the worst infested localities are in the vicinity of 

 railroads, and Prof. A. H. Kirkland reports finding eggs on freight 

 cars. These eggs, as is well known, remain unhatched over winter 

 and there is no knowing where the insect may establish itself 

 another spring. It would in all probability be in the vicinity of 

 a railway station. Aside from this source of spread there is great 

 danger in moving boxes, barrels and almost any material near 

 trees inhabited by the pest, because these eggs masses, while con- 

 spicuous, are deposited in all manner of places and unless one is 

 familiar with their nature they could easily be overlooked. The 

 situation is such as to greatly increase the chances of the insect 

 being brought into the State, and on that account all are advised 

 to be specially watchful for its advent, and in any case where there 

 is the least suspicion as to the identity of insects found, to send 

 them to this office rather than to allow false reports of the occur- 

 rence of the gipsy moth to be given out. These latter simply 

 occasion undue alarm without any benefit resulting therefrom. 

 This species may appear in New York State within a year or two 

 though we hope that its introduction may be deferred for a decade 

 or more. 



