64 BUREAU OF PLANT QUARANTINE 
[July-Sept. 
ANNOUNCEMENT RELATING TO GIPSY-MOTH QUARANTINE 
(No. 45) 
FIND GIPSY MOTH IN PENNSYLVANIA; PLAN PROMPT ERADICATION CAMPAIGN 
(Press notice) 
August 8, 1932. 
The gipsy moth, a serious enemy of forest, shade, and fruit trees, was discov- 
ered late in July in northeastern Pennsylvania near Pittston in Luzerne County, 
the Bureau of Plant Quarantine of the United States Department of Agriculture 
announced to-day. 
This insect, which has been present in the New England States for many years, 
was found in an outlying district back in the mountains, consisting principally 
of cut-over land. Immediately upon the discovery of this outbreak, Federal 
agents attempted to determine the limits of the infestation. This work is not 
yet completed, but the information at hand indicates that an area about 8 miles 
long and 4 miles wide has already been found to be involved. The chances are 
that when the survey is completed it will be found that a considerably larger area 
is infested. The extent of the infestation indicates that the gipsy moth has 
been present in this region for a period of possibly 15 years. 
Fortunately, says the bureau, there are no nurseries in this area, and hence 
there has been practically no shipment of plants or trees from this region. Plans 
are being made for the extermination of the insect and, under the circumstances, 
it is believed that this can be accomplished without the imposition of a quaran- 
tine. The eradication measures will be undertaken cooperatively by the Federal 
Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and 
the State department of forests and waters. Although it is fully realized that 
it will require a great deal of work and effort to exterminate the insect in this 
locality, in view of the success which has attended a similar campaign in New 
Jersey, where an area of approximately 400 square miles was involved, the 
chances for extermination are regarded as encouraging. 
The Pennsylvania State quarantine and other officials met with members of 
the bureau of plant quarantine at Harrisburg, August 4, to discuss the situation 
created by the finding of the insect in northeastern Pennsylvania. All agreed 
that the insect could be completely eradicated so that the forest, nursery, and 
horticultural industries in Pennsylvania would not be in danger. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATING TO JAPANESE-BEETLE QUARANTINE 
(No. 48) 
B. P. Q.— 339. August 12, 1932. 
SUPPLEMENT NO. 7 TO INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPECTORS ON THE DISINFECTION OF 
NURSERY PRODUCTS FOR THE JAPANESE AND ASIATIC BEETLES 
TREATMENT OF POTTING SOIL WITH LEAD ARSENATE 
Section A-4 of instructions P. Q- C. A. — 239 which were issued July 8, 1929, 
to supplement page 11 of instructions P. Q. C. A. — 224, is hereby revised to read 
as follows: 
Material. — Powdered acid lead arsenate. 
Conditions of the soil. — The soil to be treated must be in a friable condition; 
wet soil can not be treated satisfactorily. The treatment is recommended only 
for soils which are slightly acid or neutral in reaction. 
Season. — Where the treatment is to be used as a basis of certification between 
October 1 and the following June 15 the lead arsenate must be applied before 
August 1. This treatment can not be relied upon to eliminate the infestation in 
the soil if applied in the fall or in the spring when the larvae are fully developed. 
It is important to have poison in the soil at the time the eggs are hatching. 
Dosage. — Acid lead arsenate must be used at the rate of 2 pounds to each cubic 
yard of soil. 
Application to soil. — The lead arsenate must be uniformly mixed with the soil. 
This may be accomplished either by hand shoveling or by the use of a machine 
mixer, such as a concrete mixer. 
Period of treatment. — Plants free from soil may be potted in soil treated in this 
manner and, after October 1, may be certified for shipment. 
