Concord, Mass.
1910.
May 8
(No 4)
[May 8, 1910]

Newly hatched larvae of Gypsy Moth follow a
single strand of spider silk to roof of cabin.

  Shortly after breakfast I noticed immense numbers
of newly-hatched larvae of the Gypsy Moth crawling up
the trunks of the trees along the south side of Ball's Hill.
Some of the gray birch stems were literally black with
them. Large numbers were following one another closely
along three strands of spider web that led from a
cluster of small hemlocks to the roof of the cabin
across an intervening space of nearly 20 ft. The strands
were several feet apart and eight or ten feet above
the ground. They swayed slightly in the light breeze
but this motion did not check the tiny caterpillars
which kept steadily on in endless procession, over these
frail gossamer suspension bridges. Of what avail can
"tangle foot" be on a tree trunk against such daring
& resourceful invaders? My cotton night shirt hanging
on a nail on the cabin's roof was quickly covered with them.