UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1469 
Washington, D. C. 
February, 1927 
THE SATIN MOTH, A RECENTLY INTRODUCED PEST 
By A. F. Burgess, Senior Entomologist, in Charge, and S. S. Crossman, En- 
tomologist, Gipsy Moth and Brown-Tail Moth Investigations, Bureau of 
Entomology 1 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction 1 
Distribution in Europe and Asia_: 2 
North American distribution 3 
Description and habits 5 
Food plants 11 
Page 
Artificial control 12 
Natural enemies 14 
Economic importance 19 
Quarantine : 20 
Summary 22 
INTRODUCTION 
On June 22, 1920, H. X. Habberley, at that time superintendent of 
the Middlesex Fells Keservation of the Metropolitan Park system, 
brought to the Gipsy Moth Laboratory of the Bureau of Entomology, 
United States Department of Agriculture, a few larvae of the satin 
moth, Stilpnotia salicis L. They were found by a crew of park em- 
ployees, and were defoliating Carolina poplars along the parkway 
near the Malden-Medford city line, a few miles north of Boston. 
This parkway is several miles in length and is lined with from two 
to four rows of Carolina poplars which are about 30 years old. 
An investigation made where the caterpillars were collected 
showed a heavy infestation extending over a small area, and some 
Lombardy poplars on private property were severely defoliated. 
The caterpillars were nearly full-grown when the infestation was 
discovered, and many of them were deserting the trees, swarming 
over buildings, and in some cases entering houses. (Fig. 3, B, C.) 
After consultation with the State forester's office and the park super- 
intendent, it Avas decided to do as much work as was possible to meet 
the emergency. 
The park department began spraying the infested trees in the 
parkway and stationed a crew of men to patrol the area infested in 
1 After the satin moth was discovered the late F. H. Mosher was detailed to study its 
life history and habits in connection with his regular duties at the Gipsy Moth Labora- 
tory of the Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture. He was assisted by 
J. E. R. Holbrook, who completed certain phases of this work after the untimely death of 
Mr. Mosher. To these gentlemen credit is given for the life history and information 
concerning food plants of the insect. 
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