THE GIPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTHS 



13 



occasioned by persons with more enthusiasm than discretion, 

 who have attempted to identify an insect with which they are 

 unfamiliar. It is much more satisfactory to submit the specimens 

 to an entomologist than to arouse unnecessary fears. 



It would undoubtedly pay to exterminate a small colony, but 

 in the course of time this will be impractical. We must learn 

 to control it on our own land. The inability of the female to 

 fly and the conspicuous character of the egg masses make this 

 task relatively easy upon cultivated land. The private individual 

 can hardly cope with this insect in forest lands. The point of estab- 

 lishment in this State is almost bound to be near some dwelling 

 and therefore the species need not be allowed to establish itself 

 in wild lands at least for some years, and- by that time it is most 

 sincerely hoped that some adequate check, natural or otherwise, 

 may be found which can be employed to advantage in forest lands. 



The larva is quite resistant to arsenical poisons and it requires 

 a large dose to kill it, specially when the caterpillar is nearly grown. 

 There is probably no better poison for this insect than arsenate of 

 lead, using at least 5 pounds to 50 gallons. The application should 

 be made as soon as the young leaves are well grown in order to 

 destroy the caterpillars if possible while they are young and there- 

 fore most susceptible to the insecticide. Ordinarily thorough and 

 timely spraying with an arsenical poison should be sufficient to 

 keep this pest in subjection on fruit and shade trees. 



One of the most effective methods of keeping this pest under 

 control is by the destruction of the egg masses. Creosote oil 

 applied to the egg mass will soak in and kill the eggs. The following 

 preparation has been extensively used in work against the gipsy 

 moth. Creosote oil 50%, carbolic acid 20%, spirits of turpentine 

 20%, and 10% of coal tar. The latter is added to color the com- 

 pound and thus show at a glance what clusters have been treated. 

 It is usually best for two men to work together, one standing upon 

 the ground to point out the egg clusters and the other applying 

 the mixture. No ordinary fire running over the ground can be 

 relied upon to kill egg masses attached to stumps, foliage, stones 

 or similar places. They must either be removed and burned in a 

 stove or furnace or touched with the creosote oil preparation as 

 described above. 



The caterpillars prefer to hide during the daytime. Advantage 

 may be taken of this habit by tying burlap bands in the middle 

 around the tree trunks and dropping the upper portion of the bur- 

 lap down over the string. The bands can be lifted daily and the 



