GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 41 



in America, and without exceeding in this respect the Japanese 

 or the European species in their respective countries. A few 

 of the European Theronia atalantce have been liberated in 

 America, but nothing more is expected of it than of Theronia 

 fulvescens; and, as a matter of fact, it will be difficult to deter- 

 mine whether it is established or not, owing to the very close 

 resemblance between the two. 



Theronia will help a little in the ultimate control of the gypsy 

 moth in America, but it is not to be expected that it will ever 

 become of greater efficiency than it is at present. It is gen- 

 erally distributed throughout the infested area. 



Chalcis flavipes. 



One of the most effective parasites of the tussock moth in cer- 

 tain more southern localities is a native species of Chalcis (Fig. 

 14) which is not very common in any connection in New Eng- 

 land. If, as is altogether probable, the gypsy moth extends its 

 southern distribution into the range of Chalcis as a common 

 parasite, it is not at all unlikely that it will be attacked by it. 



In southern Europe and in Japan are other species of Chalcis 

 similar to the native species in appearance and habits, and some- 

 times quite effective parasites of the pupae of the gypsy moth. 

 They are always solitary, and notwithstanding that there is sub- 

 stance enough in an average gypsy pupa to nourish several in- 

 dividuals, there is no record of more than one ever emerging 

 from one host. The eggs are deposited in the freshly formed 

 pupa, and apparently the individual host is open to attack for 

 a period of only about three days in the course of its life. The 

 larva (Fig. 15) feeds upon as much of the contents of the pupal 

 shell as it desires, and then transforms to a pupa (Fig. 16). 

 The adult emerges later through a large, ragged hole gnawed 

 through the pupal shell. (Fig. 17.) 



The European species, Chalcis flavipes, was imported in some 

 numbers in 1905, but at that time was supposed to be an enemy 

 of the Tachinids which were primary parasites of the moth, and 

 none were liberated. In 1906 and 1907 none were received, 

 and no opportunity arose to investigate the relations existing 

 between the moth and the parasite. It was not known that it 

 was so closely confined in its geographical distribution at that 



