186 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



collecting of the eggs is best done when the trees are leafless and the 

 sky clear or covered with whitish clouds. A little experience will enable 

 one to detect the egg belts very readily. There are several methods of 

 destroying the young caterpillars in their nests. The most effective way 

 is by crushing them with the hands, mittens may be worn if preferred, as 

 suggested by Dr Fitch. If the nests are attended to early in the season, 

 the operation is quickly and thoroughly done, as most of them are within 

 reach of a short ladder. The nests may be torn out with a brush, a dry 

 mullen stalk or other arrangement and their occupants crushed on the 

 ground. This is not so thorough as crushing the caterpillars while on 

 the tree. Another method is burning the nests by the use of rags soaked in 

 kerosene and tied to a pole or other form of a torch. When the flames 

 are brought under the nests, the occupants escape so far as possible by 

 dropping. It is seldom that every caterpillar on the tree is destroyed by 

 this means. Not only do a number escape, but in many cases the trees 

 sufler severe injury, the entire branch beyond the nest being killed by 

 the fire. It would be better to cut ofl" the branches bearing nests, as is 

 done by some, and then destroy the caterpillars either by fire or by 

 crushing them. 



Bibliography 



Fabricius, J. C. Entomologia systematica emendata ct aucta. 

 1793. 3 : 433, no. 81 (original description, as Boinhyx). 



Harris, T. W. Insects injurious to vegetation [i 841]. 3d ed. 1862. 

 p. 373-75, pi. 8, fig. 13-17 (description, general account). 



Gaylord, Willis. N. Y. State agricultural society. Transactions. 

 1844. 3: 152, 153, (brief notice). 



Emmons, Ebenezer. Natural history of New York. Agriculture. 

 1854. p. 235, 236, pi. 45, fig. I, pi. 47, fig. 6 (brief account). 



Fitch, Asa. N. Y. State agricultural society. Transactions. 1855. 

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 Guide to the study of insects. 1869. p. 207, 238, 301, fig. 232 (brief 

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