REPORT OX INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FOREST TREES, 



By A. S. Packard, Temporary Field Agent. 



LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 



Providence, R. I., October IS, 1893. 

 Sir: I forward this day a report on the work done the past season in Maine and 

 Rhode Island. Notes were also made on other insects, and partial life-histories 

 recorded which are not yet sufficiently complete for publication. In accordance with 

 your instructions I spent a portion of the season, most of June and the latter 

 part of September, in Providence, and the months of July and August in Maine, 

 and early part of September in New Hampshire. 



Respectfully, yours, 



A. S. Packard. 

 C. V. Riley, 



U. S. Entomologist. 



Notwithstanding the uniformly severe and prolonged winter of 

 1892-'93, during which there seemed to have been fewer sudden alter- 

 nations of severe cold and thaws than usual, there was in the summer 

 succeeding a remarkable dearth of insect life, especially of caterpillars 

 and other larvae which feed exposed on the foliage of trees and shrubs. 

 I never knew such a scarcity of these insects, and this state of things, 

 I am told, prevailed to a greater or less degree throughout New Eng- 

 land. 



The Spruce Worm and Larch Worm. — Two subjects of interest in 

 connection with my work in former years attracted my attention. These 

 were the effects of the invasion .of the spruce worm (Tortrix fumi/erana) 

 and of the attacks on the larches or hackmatacks of the larch worm 

 (Nematus erichsonii). 



The region on the shores of Casco Bay, in which I spent the months 

 of July and August, and which in 1878-'87 was ravaged by the Spruce 

 Worm, as described in the Fifth Report of the U. S. Entomological 

 Commission, was greatly changed in appearance since 1887, During 

 the past few years the former unsightly aspect of the shores, including 

 portions of the mainland, as well as the inner islands, have boon most 

 decidedly and very pleasantly changed by the rapid growth of young 

 spruce and firs which had sprung up since the old growth had been 

 removed, with the result that what were formerly bare and unsightly 

 areas are now fresh and green tracts, with the promise of soon beeom- 



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