METHODS EMPLOYED AGAINST GIPSY MOTH. 



19 



PRUNING. 



As the female moths deposit their egg ckisters under loose bark 

 and in holes and cavities in the trees, and also because the larvae seek 

 such hiding places, it became necessary to rid the trees of* these 

 natural shelters. To accomplish this purpose a considerable amount 

 of pruning and filling of cavities was rec{uired. This work had to be 

 skillfully done, especially when fruit or shade trees in cities or towns 

 were treated. Many ingenious methods were devised for carrying on 

 these operations, some of which 

 have been adopted by profes- 

 sional foresters and others who 

 have taken up the business of 

 caring for trees. 



TREATING EGG CLUSTERS. 



The insect exists in the egg 

 stage nearly nine months in the 

 year and many experiments were 

 tried to determine the most ef- 

 fective method of treating egg 

 clusters. The first method used 

 was that followed in Europe and 

 consisted simply in scraping off 

 the egg masses and burning them. 

 In removing the eggs many were 

 scattered, even if the work was 

 carefully done, and as such eggs 

 hatched in due time it became 

 necessary to secure a better 

 method of treatment. It was 

 found that they could be killed 

 by saturating the clusters with 

 crude coal-tar creosote to which 

 was added a small amount of 

 either coal tar or lampblack to 

 discolor them and enable the 

 workmen to tell instantly the ones that had been treated. (See 

 fig. 3.) 



It was necessary to make a very thorough search of all objects likely 

 to harbor egg clusters if satisfactory results were expected, and this 

 required much climbing of high trees as well as careful ground work. 

 The pupae and moths were crushed or treated with creosote when 

 found by the workmen. 



It was necessary to apply a combination of methods to secure 

 satisfactory results and man}^ localities had to receive special treat- 



FiG. 3.— Trunk of pine tree, showing tanglefoot band 

 and egg clusters that have been treated with creo- 

 sote. (Original.) 



