KEPOKT UPON THE GYPSY MOTH IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



By Samuel Henshaw, Special Agent. 



LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 



Cambridge, Mass., December 7, 1891. 

 Sir: I herewith submit my report upon the Gypsy Moth (Ocneria dispar) in Massa- 

 chusetts, undertaken in accordance with your instructions. 

 Yours truly, 



Sam'l Henshaw. 

 Prof. C. V. Riley, 



U. S. Entomologist. 



This insect, a native of Europe, is mentioned in the American Ento- 

 mologist for February, 1S70 (Yol. n, p. 771), as accidentally introduced 

 into New England (Of. also Riley's Second Missouri Keport, 1870, p. 10). 

 Though noted at that time as " spreading with great rapidity" it was 

 not until November, 1889, when Prof. C. H. Eernald, of the Hatch 

 (Massachusetts) Experiment Station, issued a special bulletin, entitled 

 " A dangerous insect pest in Medford," that the species attracted gen- 

 eral attention. 



Prof. Eernald's bulletin, aided by notices in the daily press, led to the 

 mention of the insect by Governor Brackett in his message to the State 

 legislature in January, 1890 • he said: "A new enemy is at present 

 threatening the agriculture, not only of our State but of the whole 

 country. I refer to the Gypsy Moth (Ocneria dispar), a European in- 

 sect which has recently appeared in the State. They are said to attack 

 almost every variety of tree as well as the farm and garden crops. 

 They are now confined to a very small area in Middlesex County, but 

 have become acclimated and are spreading with great rapidity. If 

 their eradication is to be attempted, immediate measures are of the 

 utmost importance." 



A hearing was given by the Committee on Agriculture and an act 

 was passed by the legislature authorizing the appointment by the 

 Governor of a Gypsy Moth Commission to consist of not more than 

 three members. 



