GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS AND THEIR CONTROL 35 



general and, in places, severe; the northern part of the insect's range 

 is only lightly infested. The severity of infestation increased in 1932 

 and 1933, and many heavily infested sections have been found since 

 that time. Several small infestations were found in the eastern 

 part of Washington County in 1936. The brown-tail moth was 

 very abundant in the southwestern part of Maine from 1931 to 1933, 

 but the wholesale cutting of the webs has greatly reduced the in- 

 festation. Over 12,000 square miles in the State are infested with 

 the gypsy moth, and about 7,000 with the brown-tail moth. The 

 latter has been spreading to new territory since 1931. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE 



The moth work in New Hampshire is in charge of the State ento- 

 mologist. Over 8,000 square miles are infested with the gypsy moth 

 and about 5,000 square miles with the brown-tail moth. Most of 

 the territory from Lake Winnipesaukee south to the Massachusetts 

 line has suffered severe and repeated defoliation from the gypsy 

 moth. The territory directly north and northeast of the lake has 

 also had considerable defoliation. The same areas were heavily 

 infested with the brown-tail moth from 1931 to 1933. Since that 

 time the infestation has been greatly reduced by control work, and 

 also, in some sections, by winter mortality of the larvae. 



VERMONT 



In Vermont the moth work is in charge of the commissioner of 

 agriculture, who appoints an entomologist to carry on the field work. 

 After intensive scouting for the gypsy moth in the winter of 1933-34, 

 the area under quarantine was reduced from about 6,000 to 4,500 

 square miles. The heaviest infestations are located along the Con- 

 necticut River. Only a few brown-tail moth infestations have been 

 found in Vermont in recent years. A survey along the eastern border 

 of the State in 1933 and 1934 indicated a number of scattered in- 

 festations, and this area was placed under quarantine. As a result 

 of work done since that time no infestation by this insect has been 

 found during the last 2 years. 



MASSACHUSETTS 



The commissioner of conservation has charge of the moth work in 

 Massachusetts. Each infested town is required by law to select a 

 local superintendent, whose appointment must be approved by the 

 commissioner. Owners are required by law to keep their property 

 free from these pests, but cannot be compelled to expend for this 

 purpose more than $5 per year on each $1,000 assessed valuation. 

 Towns and cities must provide for proper treatment of the street 

 trees and those in parks and on public grounds. After the amounts 

 fixed by law are expended, financial aid may be supplied by the 

 State. The gypsy moth at present (1937) occurs in every town in 

 the State east of Berkshire County. It has increased in abundance 

 over much of the infested area during the last 3 years, especially in 

 the towns directly east of the Connecticut River. The area infested 

 by the brown-tail moth is a little over 4,500 square miles. 



