THE GIPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTHS 



7 



There is grave danger of both of these insects being brought into 

 New York State at almost any time, and the following brief 

 descriptive accounts have been prepared so that our citizens may 

 be able to recognize these two species upon their appearance in 

 any locality. 



Gipsy moth 



Porthetria dispar Linn. 



This notorious pest, widely and thoroughly established in eastern 

 Massachusetts, has been known by reputation to residents of New 

 York State for some years. The caterpillars are exceedingly 

 voracious feeders, readily devouring the foliage of most trees and 

 shrubs. There was practically no attempt made to control the 

 gipsy moth in Massachusetts from 1900 to 1905 and as a conse- 

 quence, its range has become greatly extended. According to 

 Superintendent Kirkland, the pest has been found in 120 cities 

 and towns and the infested area in Massachusetts is over 2000 

 square miles, nearly six times as great as that at the time work 

 against this insect ceased. It has made its way nearly 30 miles 

 west, occurring in such outlying towns and cities as Maynard, 

 Stowe and Marlboro. A recent communication from Prof. E. D. 

 Sanderson of Durham informs us that the pest has been found in 

 southeastern New Hampshire, and the presence of a colony in 

 Providence, R. I. has been known for some years. This pest has 

 also become established at Stonington, Ct. 



Destructiveness. It is very difficult for one not conversant 

 with the situation to appreciate the destructiveness of this pest, 

 which is greatly increased by its omnivorous nature. Its injuries 

 are further emphasized by the gregarious habits of the caterpillars 

 and the female's inability to fly. The result is that caterpillars 

 abound upon individual trees-, groups of trees or in extended 

 woodland areas, and if not abundant enough to defoliate the trees 

 one season, attain maturity and the parent insects deposit thou- 

 sands of egg masses which another summer may produce millions 

 of caterpillars that will entirely strip the foliage from infested 

 sections and, spreading to adjacent fields, continue the work of 

 destruction. The operations of this insect are particularly fatal 

 to pines, hemlocks and other evergreens, since one defoliation 

 of these trees is followed by death. The first serious outbreak in 

 Massachusetts in 1889 and following years was comparatively 

 limited though the injury in infested sections was severe. The 



