REPORT ON THE FIELD WORK AGAINST THE GIPSY MOTH AND 

 THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



INTRODUCTION. 



For nearly two decades eastern Massachusetts has suffered enor- 

 mous loss to its forest, orchard, and shade trees, as well as to orna- 

 mental plantings which beautify many of the large country estates, 

 by reason of the depredations of the gipsy moth (PortJietria dispar L.) 

 (see PL II), and for the latter half of this period by the combined 

 injury caused by this insect and the brown-tail moth (Euproctis 

 cJirysorrJicea L.). Both of these insects were introduced from Europe. 

 During the past few years the situation became so serious, owing to 

 the spread of these insects into Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode 

 Island, and Connecticut, that appropriations from the National 

 Government were urged by the States affected, and, owing to the 

 great danger that these pests would become disseminated over 

 the entire country, funds have been appropriated by Congress to 

 assist in securing their control and of preventing further spread. 

 The purpose of this report is to sketch briefly the life histories of the 

 insects concerned, their habits since their introduction into this 

 country, a statement of the injury caused by them here and in their 

 native homes, and to discuss the methods used for their control, in 

 order that this work may become better understood and the danger 

 of the presence of the pests more thoroughly appreciated in sections 

 which are not now infested. Free use has been made of the reports 

 already published by the State of Massachusetts and other New 

 England States, where warfare against these insects has been car- 

 ried on in the past. 



Acknowledgment and thanks are due to Dr. W. E. Britton, state 

 entomologist of Connecticut, for the use of Plate III, figure 1, and 

 to Prof. E. F. Hitchings, state entomologist of Maine, for the use of 

 Plate VIII and text figure 16. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE GIPSY MOTH AS AN INSECT PEST IN THIS 



COUNTRY. 



During the summer of 1889 great injury was caused to the foliage 

 of the street trees and of those on private estates in Medford, Mass., 



9 



