REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1 899 



543 



quart was offered for all cocoons collected. As a result, 1350 quarts 

 were bought by the village authorities of Glens Falls, 744 by Saratoga 

 Springs, 450 by Mohawk, and reports of similar action in several other 

 places also came to me. 



An examination of trees in infested localities has shown that many 

 egg clusters can not be collected to good advantage as they are 

 frequently found 20 to 50 feet from the ground. But as a large pro- 

 portion of the eggs occur on twigs within 20 or 30 feet of the ground, 

 something can be accomplished in winter by cutting off the infested 

 twigs where accessible and burning the egg clusters, specially if the trees 

 are not very large. But in the case of good sized maples, it is very 

 doubtful if this could be done to advantage, and even with moderate 

 sized trees there would probably be enough inaccessible egg belts near 

 the top to stock the trees with a host the coming spring. At best, the 

 collection of eggs of this species can hardly be regarded as more than 

 one of several repressive measures, no one of which can be depended 

 on in itself to prevent serious injury. The egg belts can be seen best 

 on a bright day and if there is a little snow, it will be easier to find all 

 cut twigs dropped to the ground. The collection and burning of the 

 eggs is necessary in order to insure thorough work. A long handled 

 pruning hook is of great service in cutting off the infested twigs. 



As soon as the presence of the young caterpillars (indicated by the 

 thinness of the foliage of the upper branches) is detected, much can be 

 accomplished by crushing them as they collect on the limbs or by dis- 

 lodging them with a brush or torch. If the latter is used, care must be 

 exercised not to injure the tree. Many caterpillars can be jarred from 

 the tree by using padded mallets or even violent shaking will cause some 

 to drop. Driving the caterpillars from the trees by jarring or otherwise, 

 must be followed by some means of preventing their ascent. A band of 

 cotton batting eight to 10 inches wide tied tightly in the middle around 

 the trunk and the upper portion turned down over the string and allowed 

 to hang loosely is a difficult obstacle for caterpillars to surmount, so long 

 as it remains dry. Wide bands of paper coated with tar or of sticky fly 

 paper will also prevent the pests from ascending for a time. A band com- 

 posed of equal parts of lard and sulfur is said to be an effective barrier. 

 In one locality bands of cottolene were used to prevent the caterpillars 

 from climbing trees. When the pests are abundant, it will not do to 

 depend entirely upon shaking and bands, the dropping creatures must be 

 collected on sheets spread under the trees before they are jarred and 

 then killed, or crushed as they collect under the bands. Nothing but 



