ENTOMOLOGY AND I'l.AXT QUARANTINE 
27 
CONDITION OF GYPSY MOTH INFIOSTATION IN NEW ENGLAND 
Defoliation caused by the gypsy moth in the summer of 1936 was less extensive 
"for the infested area as a whole than it was the previous year. The total 
reported area showing from slight to complete defoliation was 428,022 acres, 
a reduction of 112,147 acres from the total of 1935. With the exception of Mas- 
sachusetts all of the New England States showed less defoliation in 1936 than 
the year before. This was particularly true with respect to New Hampshire, 
where the decrease was very marked. In contrast to the other States there 
was in Massachusetts a decided increase in areas of defoliation in a few of the 
eastern counties. This was particularly true in Bristol and Norfolk. No 
noticeable defoliation was recorded from either Vermont or Connecticut, and 
in Rhode Island there was a marked decrease. In numerous portions of the 
infested area, particularly in Massachusetts, it was indicated that the infesta- 
tion was much more widespread than usual with the possibilities that unless 
there was heavy winter mortality of egg clusters there would be an increase 
in defoliation in tlie summer of 19'M. 
BROWN-TAIL MOTH PROJECT 
The brown-tail moth project was conducted under a W. P. A. allotment of 
funds in all of the New England States. As in the previous year, it was organized 
in close cooperation with the States concerned. In Maine and New Hampshire 
•the work was under direct supervision of State oflScers and in Massachusetts 
-field oflk?tn-s of the State had direct supervision in their respective districts. 
•Men engaged in the work were drawn from unemployed lists through the United 
States Employment Service and from W. P. A. rolls and at least 95 percent were 
from relief rolls. 
The plan under which the work was conducted called for the examination 
of all towns within the infested area and a number of others immediately outside 
for the purpose of determining possible spread and, in addition, the removal of 
neglected favored food plants, including apple, wild cherry, and plum from 
selected areas where infestations had persisted. 
In the early part of the year the number of men employed was small, but 
increases in personnel were made rapidly, the maximum number being on 
the rolls in February, when 1,360 were employed. 
During the fall, prior to the shedding of deciduous foliage, all crews were 
engaged in eliminating favored food plants, and this type of work was per- 
formed again from the end of April until the year closed. During the progress 
of the work 48.867 miles of roadside were examined, which involved the covering 
of an estimated 4.4(X).0(X) acres ; 264,468 trees were cut and burned, a majority 
of these being worthless apple trees ; 24,539,091 trees were examined ; and 
3.046,530 winter webs of the brown-tail moth were removed and destroyed. The 
State-by-State tabulation of work accomplished is shown in table 8. 
'Table 8. — Summary of irork accontplished under Works Progress Administration 
hraicn-tail moth project, fiscal year 1937 
state 
Trees cut 
Roadside 
scouted 
Estimated 
area 
scouted 
Trees 
examined 
Brown- tail 
webs cut 
Maine 
Number 
85,017 
88, 742 
22, 431 
68, 278 


Miles 
15, 104 
12, 903 
5,212 
12, 266 
993 
2. 389 
Acres 
1,359, 360 
1, 161.270 
470, 080 
l,103,9i0 
89. 370 
215, 980 
Number 
6, 340, 168 
6, 094. 643 
6, 486, 479 
5, 006, 534 
210. 225 
401,042 
Number 
743. 601 
1, 523. 478 
3 
779, 404 
44 

New Hampshire 
Vermont 
Massachusetts 
Rhode Island 
Connecticut. 
Total 
264, 468 
48, 867 
4, 400, 000 
24. 539, 091 
3, 046, 530 
Observations made during the summer of 1036 showed practically no defolia- 
tion by the brown-tail moth. In a few localities in the extreme easttn-n part 
of Massachu.setts there was some noticeable feeding. As a result of the work 
of 2 years conducted under allotment of W. P. A. funds, infestations have been 
decreased throughout the infested area. 
