18 



The Pm^<b.— When the caterpillars have changed to pupae en- 

 closed by their cocoons, these may be gathered, although the work 

 is likely to be attended by severe inflammation of the skin from 

 contact with the nettling hairs. Cocoons thus gathered should 

 be placed in a barrel covered with mosquito netting, so that any 

 parasites may escape while the moths are confined. Brown-tail 

 moth pupas are most numerous during the latter half of June. 



The Moths. —As has been already mentioned, the moths assem- 

 ble in great numbers around electric and other lights. It often 

 occurs on a morning during the flying season that a lamp pole is 

 covered by hundreds if not thousands of the winged moths. In 

 such cases the free use of the hose will wash down and kill the 

 insects. No efEective form of lamp trap has yet been devised, and, 

 in fact, it is not at all clear that the brown-tail moth can be com- 

 bated economically in the winged stage. 



Insects Mistaken foe the Gypsy and Beown-tail Moths. 

 Owing to the growing public interest in injurious insects, doubt- 

 less due in part to the fear of the moth pests, it seems desirable 

 to include at this point a brief description of the insects com- 

 monly mistaken for either gypsy or brown-tail moths, together 

 with the remedies applicable to each species. 



Tent Caterpillar. 

 Eggs : laid in midsummer in a compact, varnish-covered band 

 around twigs of apple, wild cherry, etc. Larva : appears late in 

 April, and feeds to June 1-10. The full-grown caterpillar has a 

 conspicuous, light yellow stripe along the back, which distin- 

 guishes it from the larva of the gypsy or of the brown-tail moth ; 

 the white webs spun by the caterpillars in the forks of branches 

 also serve to distinguish this species from the two others. Cocoon : 

 cream colored, containing a notable quantity of sulphur yellow 

 powder, spun on bark, fences or other sheltered places. Moth: 

 reddish brown, spread about f to 1 inch, flying principally by 

 night. Remedy: spray with arsenate of lead, 3 pounds to 50 

 gallons of water, as soon as webs are noticed. 



Forest Tent Caterpillar. 



Eggs : laid on twigs of forest trees, the ends of .the egg band 



being square cut instead of rounded, as in preceding species. 



Larva : conspicuously marked with a broken row of cream colored 



spots along back ; other stages similar to preceding species. These 



