288 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



An importation of predaceous insects to oppose this destructive 

 dispar^ e. g., Calosoma sycoplianta^ etc., cannot possibly be of 

 any industrial importance. These work in no noteworthy degree 

 even in our far smaller dispar calamities. There are small para- 

 sitic insects, especially the species of Microgaster, and even mi- 

 crobes (bacteria), which are valuable. But these can only be 

 collected and sent away when they appear in multitudes, and I do 

 not know at present of a single case in which there is such an 

 appearance. 



I can only recommend a single successful artificial remedy, 

 namely, painting or moistening the egg-clusters with liquid fat 

 (oil, petroleum, train oil) or with thin liquid wagon grease, raupen- 

 leim, etc. With brushes having long handles, and also by the use 

 of ladders, most of the egg-clusters can be reached. As a rule, 

 these egg-clusters stand out visibly from the darker green bark of 

 the trunks and branches, the under side of which may be cleaned 

 with a brush attached to a pole. This work can be done from 

 September to April, and has always been a complete success here ; 

 but with such an enormous and extensive development as dispar 

 presents with you, the successful execution of the above method 

 of destruction does not seem possible ; moreover, no other artificial 

 method is of value. You will, therefore, for the present, make 

 use of this method where the insect appears in small numbers, or 

 as single individuals beyond the area being destroyed, and also 

 where the first colonies or gathering points appear, that is to say, 

 where a great development of the insect is feared. Here the in- 

 sects are in such numbers that it is possible to destroy them, and 

 are, for the most part, to be found on the lower portion of the 

 trunks of the trees, where they can be easily reached by the hand 

 or with short-handled brushes. These later central points of the 

 invasion usually have a small area and definite borders, and such 

 a method of destruction must be adopted and carried on with all 

 possible energy, for the protection of the surrounding territory. 

 It is needless to say that the caterpillars, pupae and female moths 

 should be destroyed. 



The Eggs. 



The eggs (Plate I, Figs. 9 and 10) are nearly globular, 

 slightly flattened on the lower side, and generally flattened 

 or depressed on the upper side. They are about one-twen- 

 tieth of an inch (1.5 mm.) in lateral diameter, and of a dark 

 salmon color when first laid ; but when fertile they change 

 to a darker color, owing to the development of the embryo, 

 which is quite fully formed in about three weeks. The egg 



