60 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



gypsy caterpillars and pupae. The full-fed Calosoma larvae fre- 

 quently take refuge under the burlap bands, and any one ignorant 

 of their nature might inadvertently destroy them. 



Although this insect is unlikely ever to increase in numbers 

 sufficient to control the gypsy moth unaided, yet it possesses sev- 

 eral most promising characteristics. Its various stages are well 

 represented on Plate 12. The eggs are deposited in the earth 

 near the base of trees infested by the caterpillars, which serve as 

 food for both larvae and adults. The larvae as soon as they 

 hatch climb the trees in search of their prey, and even at this 

 stage are strong and active enough to attack the full-grown 

 caterpillars of the gypsy moth. When supplied with an abun- 

 dance of food they grow rapidly, molting twice, and then enter 

 the earth, where their subsequent transformations to pupae and 

 adults occur. The adults do not appear to leave the earthen 

 cell in which the final transformation takes place until the 

 following spring, when they come forth, ready and willing 

 to begin their warfare upon the young gypsy caterpillars without 

 delay. 



They are known to live for several years; and during their 

 periods of activity, which correspond in a general way to those 

 of the gypsy moth itself, they feed voraciously, and during these 

 periods the females lay in the aggregate a large number of 

 eggs. They appear to seek out and to remain in the vicinity 

 of the more abundant colonies of their preferred food; and 

 the fecundity of the females, and the consequent rate of in- 

 crease of the species, is to some extent, at least, dependent upon 

 the abundance of the food supply. 



The increase and particularly the dissemination of this insect 

 may be hastened materially by artificial means, and during the 

 next few years it is desired to do everything possible which 

 will favor its spread and multiplication. At the very best, 

 however, it will require several years before it is possible for 

 it to demonstrate its value from an economic standpoint, not- 

 withstanding the abundant evidence of its beneficial character 

 already secured. 



The Tachinid or Dipterous parasites of the gypsy and brown- 

 tail moths include a large variety of species of more or less 

 promise. Some of these occur so infrequently abroad as to 



