GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 53 



doubts which have been felt as to its ability to exist here; and 

 second, because it would indicate an increase beyond what could 

 be reasonably expected. The egg parasites, Anastatus and 

 Schedius, and the Tachinid Blepharipa, must demonstrate their 

 ability to survive the New England winters. It is hardly to be 

 expected that Carcelia, Zygobothria and Chalcis will be recov- 

 ered. Should any or all of them be found, it would be considered 

 as particularly encouraging. 



PARASITES OF THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



The brown-tail moth is generally and with justice considered 

 to be the less injurious of the two imported pests, and largely 

 on this accoimt the major part of the space in this bulletin is 

 devoted to the consideration of the gypsy moth and its parasites. 

 It must not be concluded from this, however, that the parasites 

 of the brown-tail moth have been treated with less consideration 

 in the laboratory. They have received their full share of atten- 

 tion, and work upon them, which naturally begins in the winter, 

 at a time when very little can be done on the parasites of the 

 gypsy moth, is largely completed by the end of June, before the 

 larger and more important importations of gypsy moth material 

 are received. 



The brown-tail is generally more common and more frequently 

 injurious than the gypsy moth in Europe, and appears to be less 

 completely controlled by its parasites. It is attacked by a 

 greater variety, but more of the species are of distinctly minor 



importance. 



There are at least six parasites native to America which at- 

 tack the brown-tail moth as freely as the native Theronia attacks 

 the gypsy moth. One of these, Diglochis, is apparently the same 

 as the European Diglochis omnivorus. All but one of the re- 

 mainder are very similar in habit to European species, as may 

 be seen by reference to Table 5. 



AH of the European parasites knovm to be of importance 

 abroad have been imported and liberated in some numbers ; but 

 in a few instances we have not been able to secure a sufficiently 

 laro'e number to establish strong colonies. Several of the Euro- 

 pean species, on account of their very close resemblance to 

 American forms which attack the brown-tail in this country, 



