INTRODUCTION. 



Probably the most important entomological event in this State 

 during the past season was the unusual outbreak of forest tent- 

 caterpillars in Central, Eastern and Northern New York. 

 While this insect is not a new comer in the forests and orchards 

 of this State, there are no records indicating that it has ever 

 before occurred in such great numbers over so wide an area. 

 Although the caterpillars were unusually numerous in certain sec- 

 tions of the State, the distribution of the species within our 

 borders is not limited to these sections. On the contrary it is 

 found over almost the entire State and in suflBcient numbers to 

 make it of much economic importance. 



The forest tent-caterpillar differs from most species usually 

 discussed in our bulletins in that it is of importance not to the 

 farmer alone, whose fruit and forest trees it readily defoliates, but 

 to the people of the villages and cities as well, when, as during 

 the past season, the hordes of caterpillars defoliate and render 

 unsightly the maple and other shade trees of many village and 

 city streets. 



This extensive destruction has created a general interest in the 

 species so that there is a demand from all classes of people for 

 information on the subject. The writer has had the species under 

 observation during most of the pstst two seasons and has prepared 

 this bulletin with the hope of aiding in disseminating the desired 

 information. 



