16 



on high trees, such as street elms, burlaps should be placed around 

 some of the larger limbs, as well as around the trunk, as many- 

 caterpillars will seek shelter up in the tree rather than descend to 

 the ground. The most effective results in using the burlap are 

 obtained where cavities, crevices, etc., in the trees have been first 

 filled with cement or covered with zinc and all loose bark removed. 

 If these hiding places are destroyed, nearly all the caterpillars will 

 seek the burlap at some time during the season. 



Banding a non-infested tree with insect lime or other sticky 

 substance or mixture to keep the caterpillars out of it is an effec- 

 tive means of protection, provided the branches of the tree do not 

 interlock with those of an infested tree, and provided the two do 

 not stand so near that the small caterpillars can pass from the in- 

 fested tree to the other by means of their fine threads. A band, 

 of whatever material composed, to be effective must remain sticky. 

 "When caterpillars are numerous in a place, they often, in their 

 attempts to cross the band, bridge it over with their threads and 

 dead bodies, with the result that other caterpillars coming later are 

 able to ascend the tree. For this reason and in order that the cater- 

 pillars which collect beijeath may be killed, the sticky band should 

 be frequently inspected. If the many caterpillars which frequently 

 "herd" below the sticky bands are not killed, they will in time 

 leave the trees for shrubbery, where they are less easily destroyed, 

 there to complete their feeding period and transform into moths. 

 Insect lime, raupenleim, tanglefopt, bodlime, printer's ink or even 

 axle grease are among the materials most used for banding. All 

 may be dangerous to the tree and should be removed after the 

 caterpillar season has passed. 



Destroying Pupm and Moths. — Pupge are commonly found unr 

 der the burlap and in other places frequented by the caterpillars. 

 They are often massed under large branches or in other sheltered 

 places. In similar locations the female moths may be found in 

 numbers. Both forms of the insect may be crushed by hand to 

 advantage during July and August. 



The Brown-tail Moth. 



The Eggs. -^The gathering of leaves which bear egg masses is 

 only feasible in the case of shrubs and young trees where the foliage 

 may be reached from the ground. Eose bushes, dwarf fruit trees and 

 ornamental shrubs often may be cleared from the moth in this way. 



The Caterpillar. — The winter webs or nests containing the 

 hibernating caterpillars are conspicuous objects at the tips of 

 twigs from October to April. These webs should be sought out 



