24 BULLETIN 1028, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
generation of the parasite. The records of parasitism secured from 
fourth-stage caterpillars which represent the second or summer gen- 
eration of A . melanoscelus were about the same. 
The second and fourth stages of the gipsy-moth larvae usually 
showed the highest percentage of parasitism, but a considerable num- 
ber of the individuals of the other stages were killed by the parasite. 
Occasionally collections were made which gave as high as 15 per cent 
parasitism, for each of the other larval stages. In large collections 
of larvae where all the caterpillars in sight were collected, the parasit- 
ism obtained averaged around 10 per cent for each generation. The 
collections from which these figures were secured contained from 
5,000 to 20,000 larvae. 
The figures obtained from the foregoing collections should not be 
taken as representing the value of the parasite. 
There are a great many parasitized gipsy-moth larvae which die 
in the field before the parasite maggot has had time to develop. The 
parasitized larvae do not eat so much as nonparasitized larvae and are 
inclined to crawl to out-of-the-way places and often are not seen 
by the collector. On the other hand, if one should search for the 
hidden larvae the collection would not be representative of conditions 
as they truly exist. 
There is each year a high percentage of mortality of the gipsy 
moth, which occurs whether insect parasites are present or not. This 
mortality varies from year to year depending upon the conditions 
which influence the contributing factors, but the average percentage 
of mortality (barring insect parasites) for any period of years is the 
same as for any other similar period of years, if the periods include 
a sufficient number of years to make the average a fair one. This 
average mortality is not sufficient to prevent the increase of the 
gipsy moth, nor is the parasitism by A. melanoscelus great enough 
to prevent the increase of this pest. Although the exact percentage 
of parasitism of the gipsy moth by this parasite can not be stated, it 
is evident that it has a very important place as a part of the sequence 
of parasites Avhich in conjunction with the other natural agencies 
retards the increase of this injurious insect. 
ABUNDANCE OF A. MELANOSCELUS IN NEW ENGLAND. 
Apanteles melanoscelus, like some of the other introduced parasites 
of the gipsy moth, is found abundantly in rather small areas. Each 
year since the parasite has been established these areas of abundance 
have been found more often and over considerably more territory. 
Until the summer of 1916 the parasite was not found in any appre- 
ciable numbers excepting at local points in and around Melrose High- 
lands. During the summer of that year a location at Beverly, Mass., 
was found where A. melanoscelus was very common. During the 
