240 INJURIOUS AND USEFUL INSECTS 



seen in small numbers. The staff, now thoroughly instructed 

 in their duties, were reducing the moths within smaller and 

 smaller limits, and it seemed as if extermination were within 

 reach if an army of trained men could be kept at work for a 

 single season. But though much was being done the public 

 anxiety did not justify the great initial cost of thorough 

 measures, and it was clear that the gipsy -moth might long 

 survive in diminished numbers. 



The more recent history is to be found in "The Gipsy-Moth 

 in America," by Dr L. O. Howard, Entomologist to the United 

 States Department of Agriculture,* and the Report on the Gipsy- 

 Moth made to the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture (1899). 

 Dr Howard reported in November 1897 that the condition of 

 the infested territory was greatly improved, but that large 

 colonies of the insect were still discovered from time to time, 

 and that a thorough inspection of the border towns was called 

 for. In the beginning of 1898 it had again been found neces- 

 sary to cut down the field-force on account of delay in voting 

 supplies, and the spring destruction of eggs was omitted. One 

 hundred and eighty thousand dollars were voted for the year. 

 Owing to almost continual rain spraying was comparatively in- 

 effective. An autumn campaign of egg-destruction was carried 

 on. The spread of the moth had been checked, and in certain 

 directions its range had been materially narrowed, while the 

 severity of the attack within the infested district showed dis- 

 tinct improvement. Two hundred thousand dollars were asked 

 for the following year (1899). The last news received from 

 America is discouraging. The appropriations for 1900 were 

 not renewed, and the insects are once more increasing in 

 number. 



The spread of the pest was of course promoted by such local 

 facilities as abundance of vegetable food and secure retreats. 

 In dense underwoods the moths multiplied incredibly, and 

 slowly spread thence in a variety of ways. The gipsy-moth, 

 like most other Liparidse, is an indiscriminate feeder, and, 

 therefore (see p. 79), there is less necessity that the female 

 moth should fly. She has ample wings, but hardly ever uses 

 them, and what we might consider to be the most natural 

 mode of dispersal is ineffective. The larvse are active and 

 move about continually, but do not undertake long excursions 

 * Bull. Dept. of Agr. No. 11, N.S, (1897). 



