TENT CATERPILLARS. 



Commissioner of Agriculture Wieting, reports in a recent letter 

 to Director Roberts that many orchards, in the eastern part of 

 the State are overrun with forest tent caterpillars. The writer 

 is also receiving daily from village authorities in eastern New 

 York, appeals for aid in destroying the vast hordes of the hairy 

 caterpillars of the same insect which are defoliating thousands of 

 beautiful shade trees, especially maples, in many village streets. 

 A trip to Oneonta convinced us that an alarming state of affairs 

 exists wherever this insect occurs in such almost incredible 

 numbers as we saw on many of Oneonta's fine maple shade trees. 

 Thousands of the shade trees in many New York villages are 

 doomed unless prompt measures are taken to destroy the cater- 

 pillars, or " maple worms," as many call them. We began mak- 

 ing observations upon this insect last year, when it stripped the 

 leaves from many maple sugar groves in our State, and we have 

 been watching it this spring, when it seems to be more numerous 

 and destructive all through the state than in many years. 



Our studies are not yet completed, but there is such a general 

 ■ call for information regarding the insect that this preliminary 

 report, or emergency bulletin, has been hastily prepared to meet 

 the demand. We expect to publish a full account of the forest 

 and the apple tent caterpillars, and will also discuss canker- 

 worms in the near future. 



The Apple-tree Tent Caterpillar. 

 Many are familiar with the common apple tent caterpillar 

 (shown in figure loi), its work, and especially its large silken 

 tent which a colony of the caterpillars spin and use a.s a nest or 

 home. These tent caterpillar nests have been altogether too 

 conspicuous objects in the nearby landscape in most parts of oui 

 state during the past two years. It is the work of only a few 

 moments to wipe out with a rag, or burn out one of these tents 

 with its writhing mass of worms. The sooner this operation is 

 performed after the nest is begun, the easier and more effectual 

 will it be. Wild cherry trees along roadsides should be 

 destroyed, for they are a favorite breeding-place for the apple 

 tent caterpillars, fall web worms, and other injurious insects. 



