Xxx eo FOREWORD 
tically every fir tree is dead. Also in 
certain localities quite a percentage 
of the spruce either has been killed or 
so badly damaged that it must even- 
tually die. The greatest damage ap- 
parently occurred where the young 
growth consisted principally of fir. 
The budworm seemed to concentrate 
to such an extent in these thick fir 
stands that old growth, mature trees 
were virtually stripped in a year, and 
spruce trees in the vicinity of these 
heaviest outbreaks suffered almost as 
much as the fir. 
At the request of the Department 
the Chief Wardens reported on the 
budworm damage in their respective 
districts. From these reports and 
from my own observations I would 
_ estimate that at least one-third of the 
fir in the State of Maine has. been 
killed by this insect.. In the worst af- 
fected areas perhaps ten percent of 
the spruce has suffered with the fir. 
Entomologists tell us that Maine was 
‘ visited years ago by the budworm and 
that other visitations are liable to 
es : occur in the future. But some think 
2 Nae seen eS s the present invasion was invited by 
BUDWORM DAMAGE. the dense growth of young fir that 
Young Spruce. and Fir was common in many localities. This 
— by the Spruce Bud- young fir growth had sprung up dur- 
Photo by Maine Forestry Dent. ing the last thirty or forty years in 
old clearings and following heavy cut- 
tings in thick spruce stands. The theory is that with such a boun- 
teous supply of green and thrifty young fir available for food, 
the budworm family waxed particularly strong and numerous 
and overran the woods before the natural parasites and other 
enemies of the species could put a check on them. Just what 
brings such an insect invasion to a sudden end is hard to determine; 
but we may indeed be thankful that this plague has apparently run 
its course. 
