REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9OO 955 



due to the commissioners of fisheries, game and forests for courtesies 

 extended in connection with the investigations on aquatic insects and to 

 Dr B. E. Fernow, dean of the state college of forestry, for aid in collecting 

 insects at Axton. 



It is a pleasure to acknowledge the continued support and encourage- 

 ment given by the regents during the past year. The work has neces- 

 sarily been hampered by limited office room, but the much larger and 

 better appointed quarters, soon to be ready, will do away with a number 



of hindrances. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Ephraim Porter Felt 



State entomologist 



INJURIOUS INSECTS 

 Porthetria dispar Linn. 



GIPSY MOTH 



Ord. Lepidoptera : Fam. Bomhycidae 



This species has attracted more attention in America in all probabihty 

 than any other imported insect with the exception of the no\^ notorious 

 San Jose, or pernicious scale. This is somewhat remarkable considering 

 its restricted range in this country, and yet it is not very surprising when 

 due credit is given to the scientists charged with safeguarding the interests 

 of the country. The presence of this insect in enormous numbers at 

 Medford (Mass.) was brought to the attention of Dr C.H. Fernald in 1889, 

 and a special bulletin calling attention to this dangerous pest was 

 issued by the agricultural experiment station at Amherst (Mass.) in 

 November of that year, A study of the situation convinced Dr Fernald 

 that it was not only possible but practicable to attempt the extermination 

 of this species. The past decade has witnessed a wonderful struggle 

 between man and nature, and, had the work received the support it 

 should, there is no doubt as to what the outcome would have been. 



There is no occasion for alarm at present. This pest does not occur 

 within the borders of New York state to my knowledge ; but, as the 

 commonwealth of Massachusetts has not only declined to do more 

 toward exterminating the pest but puts no efficient checks on its dis- 

 tribution, it is only a question of time when the insect will occasion us 

 some of the trouble it has caused in the neighboring state. It is impossi- 

 ble to say just when this insect will succeed in establishing itself in New 



