MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 

UNITED STATES DEPAE® ST HOR eHHieULTURE 
be SBRAR Y | 
——  . REGEIVETY orien 2 nen ee 
_ Number 112 r SEY) SIU 3 ‘tr | August, 1923 
' a me tle TT a As mio ee 

ONS 
A. F. Burgess, Entomologist in Charge 
On March 3, 1925, S. &. Crossman and R. T. Webber sailed from New York 
_ to study the natural enemies of the gipsy moth, Porthetria dispar L., in Europe, 
with a view of introducing into the United States parasites of this insect 
_ which are not already established here. During the same month, Dr. J. N. 
Summers sailed for Japan on a similar project. 
France, Spain, -Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rouvmania, and Poland 
were visited, where consultations were held with prominent entomologists. In 
addition favorable forest areas were scouted in an attempt to locate Porthetria 
dispar infestations. The first four countries had been thoroughly scouted the 
previous year by Mr. Crossman, so that this year it was not necessary to re- 
scout much of this area. 
A heavy gipsy moth infestation was found in Spain, and medium infesta- 
tions were located in Hungary and Roumania. Very light infestations were 
found in Poland, France, Italy, and Germany, but no dispar were seen in Austria. 
At Debreczen, Hungary, which is about 200 miles east of Budapest, a med- 
- ium to heavy gipsy moth infestation was found which seemed to offer the best 
' possibilities for parasite study. Accordingly arrangements were made for the 
' use of a small brick building near the forest for an insectary. Through the 

kindness of Dr. G. Horvath of the National Museum at Budapest, the services 
of one of his assistants, J. Ujhelyi, were obtained. A few more than 100,000 
gipsy moth larvae were collected, from which were recovered and sent or brought 
to America 36,978 tachinid puparia. Of these, 27,248 are Parasetigena segregata 
Rond., a species which has a single generation each year. 
In Europe this species is also recorded as a parasite of Lymantria monacha 
L. and Lophyrus pint L. The puparia have been examined at the Gipsy Moth Labor- 
atory and placed in hibernation. It is estimated that at least 50 per cent of 
the puparia are in excellent condition, and the establishment of this species 
in America seems very probable. 
a Next in abundance to Parasetigena segregata are 9,148 puparia of what appears 
to be Blepharipa scutellata R. D., a species which has a single generation each year. 
This species is already well established in America, but the puparia were saved 
for colonization. 
. The remaining 582 tachinids are summer-issuing species, all of which have 
- geveral recorded European hosts and which require alternate hosts for their 
establishment. The species involved are Tachina larvarum L., Carcelia gnava Meig., 
 Lydella nigripes Fall, Zenillia libatrix Panz, Sturmia gilva Hartig, and Compsilura conemnata 
Meig. The last-named species is already well established in America, and it 
is likely that some of the other species can be established when sufficient in- 
dividuals can be obtained in Europe. 
, Biological studies of these summer-issuing species of the tachinids re- 
- ceived at Melrose Highlands are being made, but at present it seems doubtful if 
| enough breeding work can be done with the species on hand to result in enough 
individuals to make a satisfactory colony. 
