52 



Mr. Forbush replied that the chief reduction had been made on the 

 outside, but that many colonies had been also exterminated in the cen- 

 ter of the region. The greatest progress was made during the first and 

 second years of the State board work. There had been cases of rein- 

 festation of "exterminated" territory from larvae brought from the 

 infested center. 



At the request of Mr. Fernald, Mr. Kirkland spoke briefly of the 

 experimental work of the past year. He stated that two main lines of 

 investigation had been followed — experiments with insecticides and 

 study of natural enemies. In conjunction with the chemist, who pre- 

 pared the compounds, a large series of arsenical preparations had been 

 tested. Sulpharsenates did not give results superior to arsenates. 

 Experiments with arsenite of lead versus arsenate of lead had shown 

 the two poisons to be about equal in insecticidal properties, the arsenite 

 of lead not being quite as effective as the arsenate. The experiments 

 with barium arsenate had already been described. 



Of the hymenopterous parasites, Pimpla pedalis and P. tenuicomis had 

 been reared in small numbers. The work on life histories of the pre- 

 daceous beetles had been carried on by a man especially detailed for the 

 purpose, Mr. A. F. Burgess, and much valuable information obtained. 



The predaceous heteroptera had been studied by Mr. Kirkland and 

 many doubtful points in their life history cleared up. These insects 

 when emerging from their hibernating quarters attack the larvre of the 

 tent caterpillar in great numbers. Mr. Kirkland referred to the fact 

 that the same legislative delay that hindered the spring field work also 

 seriously handicapped the experimental work. 



In discussing the above remarks, Mr. Hopkins highly commended the 

 good work that had been done in destroying the gypsy moth, but 

 expressed the opinion that extermination would not be accomplished, 

 owing to the lack of financial support on the part- of the legislature. 



Mr. Lintner advocated the desirability of extermination and stated 

 that it was his opinion that if the State would grant sufficient funds 

 extermination would be accomplished. The time had come when Mas- 

 sachusetts should be aided by the financial support of the National 

 Government. He contrasted the action of the Government concerning 

 tihe Rocky Mountain locust invasions with its present inaction as regards 

 the gypsy moth. National support would also inspire the Massachu- 

 setts people with more confidence. 



Mr. Fletcher spoke in very flattering terms of the success in exter- 

 mination thus far obtained and of the value of the special report on 

 the gypsy moth to entomologists in general. This book he considered 

 would be an invaluable reference work to economic entomologists. He 

 had been in the infested region twice and knew that the work had been 

 well done, and this in spite of difficulties arising from insufficient means. 



In answer to a question by Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Forbush made a more 

 explicit statement concerning the progress of the work and the 



