70 PARASITES OF GTPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



early appearance of adult parasites. Mr. Titus, in 1906, tried the 

 experiment of rearing a very few of these imported larvae, and found 

 that in their later growth they gave out a second lot of parasites 

 entirely different from those reared in May from the very young 

 hibernating larvae, indicating a delayed development of eggs which 

 must have been laid by adult parasites the previous autumn. Among 

 these were at least two species, one belonging to the genus Apanteles 

 and the other a Meteorus. Before his resignation in 1907 he started 

 an extensive series of rearing experiments with the end in view of 

 securing these parasites in large numbers. Partly on account of his 

 enforced absence from the laboratory during a critical period, and 

 partly through the unsuitable character of the rearing cages which 

 were employed, the project did not meet with entire success. Only 

 about 1,000 of the parasites were reared, of which all but a small 

 percentage were the Apanteles. 



The importations of the summer following the trip above described 

 were very large, and reasonably successful, and during June alone 

 872 boxes were received, many others following during July and into 

 August, shipments of brown-tail eggs and gipsy-moth eggs following, 

 and of brown-tail winter nests in the late autumn and during the 

 winter. As in 1906, tachinids made up the great bulk of the para- 

 sites secured through the importation of pupae and active caterpillars. 

 Notwithstanding the improvement in methods of shipment over 

 previous years, Apanteles invariably hatched en route, and only dead 

 adults or secondary parasites were received. • 



Before the close of the summer it had become obvious that better 

 quarters for the Massachusetts laboratory were necessary. The 

 heating and lighting arrangements at North Saugus were insuffi- 

 cient ; the building was not sufficiently commodious, and the location 

 was not convenient. Therefore, after considerable search, Mr. 

 Kirkland found and leased for a term of years a commodious house 

 at Melrose Highlands (No. 17 East Highland Avenue) (see PL II, 

 fig. 2, p. 56.) The building was remodeled so far as necessary to fit 

 it for the work. The grounds back of the house were sufficiently 

 ample to enable the building of several outdoor laboratories, properly 

 screened and ventilated, which were planned and erected under the 

 direction of the junior author. The building is well warmed, lighted 

 with electricity, and, being close to fire protection, possesses many 

 advantages over the old laboratory. Moreover, it is much nearer 

 the central office in Boston, enabling an important saving of time in 

 sending to the laboratory shipments of parasites received from abroad. 

 The rental and the expense of construction were all borne by the 

 State of Massachusetts. The new quarters are also within a stone's 

 throw of a large area of waste land covered with scrub oak. 



