12 



STATE HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. 



Cankerworms. — Two species of cankerworms do damage to 

 our trees, but they so closely resemble each other that it is 

 difficult to distinguish them in the larval form. The adult 

 moths, male and female, do not resemble each other, the male 

 being winged, the female wingless. The proper time for fight- 

 ing this pest is when the wingless female makes her appearance 

 out of the ground where she has been hibernating in the pupal 

 form. For years many devices have been used to prevent the 



female from ascending the 

 tree, and any substance 

 which will retain its sticki- 

 ness will be good for this 

 purpose. During 1905 ex- 

 tensive experiments were 

 carried on with tree tangle- 

 foot, a very sticky sub- 

 stance manufactured in 

 the East. The results were very gratifying; in fact, tests were 

 made side by side with the wire-mesh trap, and the tanglefoot 

 gave by far the better results. The substance should be ap- 

 plied in early November, and is put on a paper band which 



a 



Fig. 7. Spring Cankerworm {J^aleacrita vernata). 

 a. Male moth. b. Female moth. c. Three 

 joints of antennse of female moth. d. Abdom- 

 inal segment of female moth, enlarged, 

 e. Ovipositor, enlarged. 



Fall Cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria). 

 a. Male moth." b. Female moth. c. Joints of antennse of female, 

 enlarged, d. Segment of body of female, enlarged, e. Larvae of 

 cankerworm. 



has been fastened to the tree, and when the wingless moth 

 crawls upon it she is held captive and soon perishes. 



If through neglect in banding the trees the moths ascend to 

 the branches and deposit their eggs, producing a brood of 

 worms, the only remedy is the arsenate of lead solution. 



Tussock Moth {Hemerocampa vetusta, Boisd.). — The larva of 

 this moth does not form a tent, as in the case of the forest-tent 

 caterpillar, which is often taken for it. It is generally found 

 singly on the under side of leaves, or along the stems of new 

 growth, and is a very general feeder. Gathering the white, 



