1 8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



feet of the thorn trees where larvae were found was destroyed 

 by means of a cyclone burner (a cyclone nozzle burning crude 

 oil) and the bare soil repeatedly burned over in this manner, 

 except that between the young trees the surface soil was 

 removed prior to the treatment. Before this operation the 

 Crataegi and other trees within the infested area were care- 

 fully inspected, banded with tree tanglefoot and then repeatedly 

 sprayed with a petroleum whale oil soap solution for the pur- 

 pose of destroying any caterpillars which might possibly have 

 escaped observation. The remains of a winter nest of a brown 

 tail moth was discovered on the other side of the estate and 

 similar measures pursued, except that the surface soil was re- 

 moved prior to the burning. This latter work was done so 

 thoroughly as to destroy grass roots in firm vigorous sod. The 

 insecticide was strong enough to cause quite a little dropping 

 of the foliage though the trees were not materially injured. 



These precautions wtre supplemented by the operations of 

 trap lanterns near the two centers of infestation from the latter 

 part of June to July i6, for the purpose of attracting thereto 

 and capturing any individual which might possibly have escaped the 

 treatment described above. Nothing suspicious came to the 

 lights or was observed in the vicinity, despite repeated exam- 

 inations made of trees, poles and buildings in the vicinity. The 

 captures with the trap lantern in the center of the larger 

 burned area were remarkably scarce, especially for the first 

 few days after the burning. 



A general survey of the vicinity September 21st resulted in 

 finding nothing suspicious and showed further that none of the 

 trees, in the treated area had been seriously affected. 



Destructiveness. The caterpillars of the brown tail moth are 

 exceedingly voracious, feeding by preference on the foliage 

 of apple, pear, plum, wild cherry and white oak, though 

 they thrive on both soft and hard maples and also elm. These 

 pests have been exceedingly abundant in recent years in the 

 Middlesex fells and other extensive wooded areas north or 

 northwest of Boston, Mass., defoliating large tracts of white 

 oaks. Numerous apple and pear trees throughout the infested 

 region have been killed or are in a dying condition and bear 

 striking testimony to the voracity of this caterpillar. Further- 

 more, the irritating hairs blowing from the nests or cocoons 

 are constantly causing serious discomfort on account of the 

 severe irritation produced. This insect, in association with the 



