PRESERVE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. xrf ljjjassacjms*tts. THE GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS, BULLETIN Ko. 1. ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR SUPPRESSING THE GYPSY AND BROWN- TAIL MOTHS. QL 548 M 312 BOSTON : WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 18 POST OFFICE SQUARE. 1905. c/>= nj OJ S! in' m o C0mmantattlj of Massaefmaetis. THE GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS, BULLETIN No. 1. ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR SUPPRESSING THE GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. LI BR AR V BOSTON : WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 18 POST OFFICE SQUARE. 1905. C0mm0ntoeali{} of OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR SUPPRESSING THE GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. The gypsy and brown-tail moths - - destructive, introduced foreign insects - - by act of the Legislating of Massachusetts have been declared public nuisances and their suppression author- ized and required. Under chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905, printed in full at the end of this bulletin, certain duties in the suppression of the gypsy and brown-tail moths devolve upon the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, upon its cities and towns and upon its citizens as individuals. This bulletin is issued by the State Superintendent for Sup- pressing the Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths for the guidance of cities and towns and of individual citizens in the work of suppression. To this end, certain essential facts concerning the two insects are herewith presented. It is hoped that a perusal of the bulletin will give city and town officials, and individual property owners as well, a clear idea of their rights and duties under the act. It is incum- bent on all citizens to familiarize themselves with the appearance and habits of the moths and the means best suited for destroying them. Any insects suspected to be either gypsy or brown-tail moths will be gladly identified at this office, and requests for information or advice will receive prompt attention. A. H. KIEKLAND, Superintendent. 6 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS., Sept. 1, 1905. Oak and pine woods attacked by the gypsy moth. Massachusetts Board of Agriculture Report, 1896. THE GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. THE GYPSY MOTH. As far back as authentic records exist, the gypsy moth has been a destructive insect pest in Europe ; at times increasing enormously and disastrously, then for other periods decreasing, only to increase again and renew its extensive ravages. At the present time it is most numerous and destructive in southern Russia. Up to the year 1868 the gypsy moth was not known to exist any- where within the western hemisphere. In that year the insect was brought from Europe by an experimenter to Medford, Mass. Soon escaping, it spread into many cities and towns of eastern Massa- chusetts, and, increasing enormously, became in 1890 so serious a pest that the Commonwealth began exterminative work against it. This was continued for ten years. By 1900 the'State work had so reduced the moth that it was doing little or no serious damage, and had, indeed, ceased to be generally noticed, having been ex- terminated in many places. The Commonwealth then abandoned its operations against the insect ; whereupon it rapidly gained head- way, and soon became again a formidable menace. To-day, in many localities, the gypsy moth occurs in enormous numbers, as it did in 1890, but it is found over a much larger territory than it occupied at that time. The Damage caused by the Gypsy Moth. The gypsy moth caterpillar will attack all fruit, shade and wood- • land trees. It shows a preference for the apple, white oak, red oak, willow and elm. It will devour on occasion nearly every useful grass, plant, flower, shrub, vine, bush, garden or field crop that grows in Massachusetts. The caterpillar kills both deciduous and coniferous trees. Wood- lands assailed by it in formidable numbers are stripped bare, as in winter, and many trees are killed. While several consecutive strippings are usually necessary to cause the death of a healthy deciduous tree, one thorough stripping will kill the white pine and other coniferous trees. Where the gypsy moth abounds in resi- dential districts, it not only eats nearly everything green, but it swarms, in caterpillar form, upon houses, walks and verandas and often enters dwellings. In residential districts most heavily in- fested by the moth real estate tends to rapid depreciation, so that it sometimes becomes a matter of difficulty to rent or sell property. Life History. The gypsy moth, like all insects of its class, exists under four different forms during the year. The Egg. - - The eggs of the gypsy moth are laid in July and August in a yellowish, hair-covered mass averaging about one and one-half inches long and about three- fourths of an inch wide. To the eye the egg mass resembles a small, tightly stuffed, oval, buff-colored cushion. During win- ter the color often fades to a dingy white. In this mass, the eggs, to the average number of about five hundred, are closely packed with yellowish hair from the body of the female moth. An individual egg is scarcely as large as a pinhead, salmon- colored when first laid, but turning dark in the course of a few weeks. The Caterpillar or Larva. — The eggs hatch about May 1, and each mass or "cluster" yields a swarm of small cater- pillars, the bulk of which become fully grown by midsummer. Gypsy moth cater- pillars of any age are decidedly hairy. The head of the caterpillar is large in proportion to its body, this being especially noticeable when it is young. The mature caterpillar has a dusky or sooty-colored body. Along the back, counting from the head, which is marked with yellow, is a double row of blue spots followed by a double row of red spots. This double row of spots almost invariably may be seen very distinctly on the back of a gypsy moth caterpillar which has attained a length of one inch and a half or more. There are five pairs of blue spots and six pairs of red spots. No other New England larva has this double row of blue and red spots along its back. Until the gypsy moth caterpillar grows to the length of an inch and a half, however, it does not always show very distinctly these pairs of spots. The mature gypsy moth caterpillar not infrequently attains a length of three inches. FIG. 1. — Egg cluster of gypsy moth. FIG. 2. — Full-grown cater- pillar of the gypsy moth. T he Pupa, — When fully grown, usually in July, the caterpillar spins a few threads of silk as a supporting framework, casts its skin and changes into a pupa, or, as it is sometimes called, a chrysalis. The pupa is dark reddish or chocolate in color and very thinly sprinkled with light reddish hairs. Unfortunately it re- sembles the pupa3 of certain other moths found in Massachusetts, and cannot, unless by experts, be identi- fied at a glance. The thinly sprin- kled, light reddish hairs are, how- ever, characteristic. The Moth. --From July 15 to August 15 the winged moths emerge from the pupa, the date varying according to the season and time of pupation. The male moth is brownish-yellow, varying to green- ish-brown in color, has a slender body and expands about one and one-half inches. It flies actively by day, with a peculiar zigzag flight. The female moth is nearly white, with numerous small black markings, heavy bodied and sluggish, and expands about two inches. The female does not fly, otherwise the spread of the gypsy. moth would be most rapid. After mating, the moths live but a short time. The female dies after depositing her egg mass. The winded moths take no food. All o damage to foliage is caused by the caterpillars. Distribution. The gypsy moth spreads chiefly dur- ing the caterpillar stage. While the caterpillars do not crawl very far from FIG. 4.— Male gypsy moth. where they hatch, except when there, is a scarcity of food, they have the habit, when small and young, of spinning down on their silken threads from trees, and, falling on ve- hicles, are then carried from place to place. Electric cars, pleasure, and business vehicles, bicycles and automobiles are common means of thus transporting the gypsy moth. The special attention of all those upon whom gypsy moth suppression devolves is therefore directed to the necessity of keeping the neighborhoods of travelled highways free from the insect. The caterpillars often crawl upon FIG. 3. — Pupa of gypsy moth. 8 vehicles standing in an infested spot, and by this means also are carried from one place to another. The egg clusters of the gypsy moth may also be transported upon any of the numerous objects on which they are laid. Freight cars that have stood near in- fested foliage for a period long enough for the laying of gypsy moth eggs upon them may even thus transport the pest. The gypsy moth is now found in the following cities and towns : — List of Cities and Aldington. Acton. Amesbury. Andover. Arlington. Ashland. Avon. Bedford. Belmont. Beverly. Billerica. Boston. Boxl'ord. Braintree. Brockton. Brookline. Burlington. Cambridge. Canton. Carlisle. Chelsea. Cohasset. Concord. Danvers. Dedham. Dover. Duxbury. East Bridgewater. Essex. Everett. Framinghani. Georgetown. Gloucester. Groveland. Halifax. Hamilton. Hanover. Hanson. Towns infested by the Haverhill. Hingham. Holbrook. Hopkinton. Hudson. Hull. Hyde Park. Ipswich. Kingston. Lawrence. Lexington. Lincoln. Lynn. Lynnfield. Maiden. Manchester. Marblehead. Marlborough. Marshneld. Maynard. Mediord. Melrose. Merrimac. Middleton. Milton. Nahant. Natick. Needham. Newbury. Newbnryport. Newton. North Andover. North Reading. Norwell. Norwood. Peabody. Pembroke. Plymouth. Gypsy Moth. Plympton. Quincy. Randolph. Reading. Revere. Rockland. Rockport. Rowley. Salem. Salisbury. Saugus, Scituate. Sherboru. Somerville. Southborough. Stoneham. Stoughton. Stow. Sudbury. Swampseott. Tewksbuiy. Topsfield. Wakefield. Waltham. Wareham. Watertown. Way land. Wellesley. Wenham. West Bridgewater. West Newbury. Western. Weymouth. Wliitman. Wilmington. Winchester. Winthrop. Woburn. • Spraying operations against the gypsy moth. Massachusetts Board of Agriculture Report, 1899. 9 "\Vhile the foregoing list is accurate at this writing (Sept. 1, 1905), there can be but little doubt that the gypsy moth occurs over a considerably larger area. From a knowledge of the exist- •ence of large colonies of the moth on main lines of travel in eastern Massachusetts, as well as of the means by which the moth spreads, it seems probable that the insect will ultimately be found at least throughout the eastern part of the State. Where to look for the Gypsy Moth. The Egg. --From August to May the egg masses of the gypsy moth may be found in places near which the moth emerged from the pupa case. In laying, the female moth chooses tree trunks, the under sides of limbs, sheltered crotches and holes in trees, hollow trees, crevices in or under rough bark, etc. The egg clusters are also found on shrubbery, buildings, scattered and heaped rubbish, barrels, boxes and similar objects standing out of doors, wood piles, stone piles, fences, walls, boulders and the like. Gypsy moth egg clusters have been found upon an immense variety of objects, and occasionally may be seen in almost any situation that is not too far from vegetation. The tendency is to deposit the eggs on the lower or inner surface of an object. The moths disregard all rules when they swarm in a place, and their egg clusters may then be found plentifully in sight as well as out, and in all sorts of places, even within buildings. The Cate)'jnHar.--'FYom May to August the caterpillars may be found in various stages of growth, diminishing in numbers rapidly after July 15. In the spring the small caterpillars should be looked for on the foliage, feeding principally on the under side of the leaf. As the caterpillars grow, they molt or cast their skin several times, and these molted skins are characteristic signs of .the presence of the moth. As the caterpillars acquire size, they commence to feed by night, and during the day seek shelter, generally in clusters, on the shady side of tree trunks, beneath large limbs, under rough or loose bark, in holes in trees, under fence rails, in walls, stone heaps, rubbish piles, in short in any accessible place offering shelter from the sun and the birds. The Pupa. — Gypsy moth pupae are most abundant during the latter half of July. They are to be found in the same situations as are chosen for depositing the egg clusters, and not infrequently, also, in the foliage of trees and shrubs. The Moth. — The peculiar zigzag flight of the male moth has already been noted. The large, white, conspicuous female moths sit or crawl on tree trunks, etc., near their pupa cases. In July 10 (chiefly the latter half) and through August these females may be found busily engaged in laying their eggs. Danger Signs. — The bristly, cast-off molt skins of the gypsy moth caterpillars, often with the head cases attached, may fre- quently be found in the situations chosen for the eggs and pupse. They are often massed in bunches, and are very commonly asso- ciated with empty gypsy moth pupa cases or hatched or unhatched gypsy moth egg clusters. Gypsy moth molt skins and empty pupa cases are resistant to weather and decay, and may be found at any season of the year. The presence in any locality of such molt skin, empty pupa case or hatched egg cluster of the gypsy moth indicates the probable presence near by of the living moth in some form, and therefore is a sign of danger not to be disregarded. The hatched-out egg masses of a previous year often remain intact in sheltered places, and thus give a clue to the presence of the insect. THE BROWJir-TAiL MOTH. This insect, like the gypsy moth, a common European pest of fruit and shade trees, has been an object of interest to gardeners from the earliest times. Throughout Europe it is known as the "common caterpillar," and accounts of its habits and periodical ravages are to be found in nearly all European works on entomology and horticulture. It found its way accidentally to Somerville, Mass., in the early nineties, probably in a shipment of roses from Holland, multiplied, spread, and is now generally disseminated over eastern New England. Damage ly the Brown-tail Moth. While at first a pest of the pear and other fruit trees, the brown- tail moth has now adapted itself to feeding on various species of forest trees, notably the oaks. In the spring, as soon as the buds unfold, the young caterpillars begin to feed, and where numerous completely strip even large trees. When the food supply gives out, they swarm forth along fences, walks, etc., in search of foliage. The damage by the caterpillars to the fruit trees is only a part of the harm wrought by them. Whenever these insects come in contact with human flesh, they produce a most severe and painful nettling. This is due apparently not to any poisonous material in the hairs, but rather to the finely barbed and brittle hairs them- selves. So severe is this affection that in many cases people have CD P i-J s? CD O CD S5 i— i- CD 6 3 & i 5* 0 P- 5 £ S 3 £ S2, 1 O p «<) S CD CD O w CD O CD CD "Winter webs of brown-tail moth on English oak. Photo loaned by Chas. Bradley, Superintendent of Farm School, Thompson's Island. Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, Special Report on Brown-tail Moth, 19O3. 11 been made seriously ill by it. The best remedy for it is the liberal use of cooling lotions, or what is more satisfactory, even if less pleasant, the free use of common vaseline. "\Vhere the brown-tail moth caterpillar exists in great numbers, it at times gathers upon houses and even enters them, causing extreme annoyance. Like the gypsy moth, the brown-tail moth, where it abounds, depreciates the value of residential property. Life Hi story. The Egg. — The egg mass of the brown-tail moth somewhat re- sembles that of the gypsy moth, but it is laid on the under side of a leaf — seldom on a tree trunk — and is smaller and more elongated and of a brighter reddish-brown color. From July 15 to the end of the month, the white moths lay their eggs in brown, hair-covered masses on the leaves near the top of pear and other trees. Each egg cluster contains about three hun- dred eggs, closely packed in a mass about two-thirds of an inch long by one-fourth of an inch wide. The Cuti't-jnUar. --The eggs hatch during August, and the young caterpillars begin to feed in clus- ters on the upper surface of the leaves. They soon commence the work of spinning their winter webs. In making the web a number of leaves in the vicinity of the egg clusters are drawn together and carefully spun in with a tenacious silken web. The web is grayish in color, composed of dead leaves and silk, and is very hard to tear apart. Each web contains about tAvo hundred and fifty caterpillars, and varies in length from four to six inches. With the approach of cold weather the caterpillars enter the web and close the exit holes. AVe then have the strange Flu 5__wlnter phenomenon of a caterpillar wintering over when only one-quarter grown, and emerging the f ollowing spring to complete its life history. The extremes of cold in Massachu- setts do not seem to affect these insects adversely. They emerge in the spring, usually early in April, eat first the buds and then the blossoms, and attack the foliage of fruit trees as soon as it develops. The full-grown caterpillar is about two inches in length, with a broken white stripe on either side and two conspicuous red dots on the back near the posterior end. Stripping the foliage of one tree, they go to others, and con- tinue to eat until full grown, when the cocoons are spun within the leaves at the ends of the branches or sometimes on the tree trunks. web of brown- tail moth (re- duced). 12 The, Pupa. --The caterpillars pupate within their cocoons at the tips of twigs. Usually the mass of cocoons is formed within a spray of leaves, but at times the cocoon is made on a house wall, fence, tree trunk, etc. The pupa is a compact, dark -brown body, about five-eighths of an inch long, with yellowish-brown hairs scattered over its surface. Pupation takes place the latter part of June, and the moths emerge about the middle of July. The Moth. - - The moths are pure white on the wings. The male is slender bodied, while the female has a conspicuous bunch of brown, hair at the tip of the abdomen, hence the name "brown-tail moth." The female has a wing expanse of about one and one-half inches, the male being slightly smaller. Both the male and female brown-tail moths fly mainly by night, and are greatly attracted to lights. As in the case of the gypsy moth, all the destructive work of the brown-tail moth is done by its caterpillar, which, unlike the FIG. (;. — Full-grown gypsy moth caterpillar, habitually feeds by day. caterpillar of the brown-tail moth. Distribution. The brown-tail moth is known to have spread at least as far to the northeast as Eastport, Me., and as far south as Cape Cod, Mass. To the west it has been found at Amherst, Mass. The eastern portion of Massachusetts from north to south is now quite solidly infested, though less so south of Boston, and the moth doubtless exists in many communities in and out of Massa- chusetts from which it has not yet been reported. The female winged brown-tail moth, like the male, is a strong, swift flyer „, , J FIG. 7. — Female brown-tail moth. and can carry her eggs long distances before depositing them. For this reason the brown-tail moth has spread much farther from its point of introduction in Massachusetts than has the gypsy moth. In its flight the brown-tail moth is often aided by strong winds. It is also transported on steamboats and in electric and steam cars to which it is attracted at night by the lights. The caterpillar of the brown-tail moth lias, when young, the " spinning down " habit already described in the case of the gypsy •• ! ' <.•• ! '• Pine and other trees killed by gypsy moth. Cutting and burning operations in progress. Massachusetts Board of Agriculture Report, 1899. 13 moth caterpillar, and is similarly transported by vehicles and pedestrians. The neighborhoods of travelled highways, therefore, should be kept free from the brown-tail as well as from the gypsy moth. THE SPECIES CONTRASTED. The gypsy moth and the brown-tail moth are constantly con- fused in the minds of many people. The following marked differ- ences between the two should be noted : — «. The egg cluster of the gypsy moth is rarely found on the under side of a leaf, and is commonly a rather robust-looking object, often two inches long and relatively thick and broad. The egg cluster of the brown-tail moth is almost always deposited on the under side of a leaf, and is smaller and more slender than a typical gypsy moth egg cluster. b. The gypsy moth caterpillar, when well grown, has a dark grayish or sooty-colored body, marked conspicuously along the back, counting from the head, with a double row of blue spots followed by a double row of red spots. The brown-tail moth caterpillar, when well grown, is of a bright tawny or orange-brown color, marked along each side of the body by a conspicuous row of pure white spots, and having two bright red spots at the lower end of the back. c. The female gypsy moth has a wing spread of about two and one quarter inches, and her general color is a dingy white lightly streaked and blotched with blackish and faint grayish. Her abdo- men has no thick, conspicuous patch of golden or brownish hairs at the tip. Though she has large wings (which she of ten nutters), she does not fly, but merely crawls short distances. The female winged brown-tail moth is much smaller than the female gypsy moth, with much less spread of wing. Her color is a remarkably pure, unsullied, snow white. At the tip of her abdomen is a very conspicuous, unmistakable, sharply contrasted, thick, rounded patch of golden or brownish hairs. The female brown-tail moth is a swift, strong flyer, mainly flying by night, and is greatly attracted to lights. d. The gypsy moth caterpillar never weaves a nest or web in which to hibernate during cold weather. The.gypsy moth winters in the egg form, never as a caterpillar. The caterpillar of the brown-tail moth always weaves a hiber- nating nest or web in which to rest torpid during the winter. Throughout cold weather the brown-tail moth is in caterpillar form, dormant and snugly ensconced inside its nest, which is placed at or near the tip of a twig. "With the warm weather of 14 spring the brown-tail moth caterpillar does not " hatch ", but simply awakens to animation, crawls out of the nest and begins to feed. e. The gypsy moth does not, in any of its forms, produce note- worthy irritation of the human skin. The brown-tail moth caterpillars and cocoons, by reason of their hairs, cause a most annoying and painful irritation. The female brown-tail moths, in their struggles to emerge from the cocoons, often acquire a certain number of caterpillar hairs, and hence are sometimes, though rarely, the cause of the irritation above men- tioned. EEMEDIES AGAINST THE MOTHS. The Gypsy Moth. Egg killing. - - No single method of destruction against the gypsy moth is more effective than killing the eggs. The egg masses wherever accessible can be killed from August to May by soaking them thoroughly with creosote mixture. The creosote may be applied with a small swab or paint brush. In killing gypsy moth eggs in high trees, it is usually best to work with two men ; one man to point out the egg clusters from the ground, another to kill the eggs in the trees. Creosote mixture may be purchased at agricultural warehouses and seed stores at from fifty cents to one dollar per gallon, depending on quantity. "Where trees and shrubbery (especially low-cost woodland and unimproved tracts of brush) are extensively infested with the eggs of the gypsy moth, the growth should be cut and burned. The eggs are, however, remarkably resistant to fire, and an intense heat applied directly to the clusters is required to kill them all. Where the clusters are very plentiful, burning the ground over with oil to destroy eggs scattered as a result of the cutting of trees and bushes will be required to insure thorough work. Caterpillar Destruction. — Spraying infested foliage with arsenate of lead at the rate of ten pounds to one hundred gallons of water is very effective when the caterpillars are small. Any of the com- mon hand outfits will suffice for the spraying of shrubs or flowering plants. For use on trees, a pump mounted on a barrel or hogshead is desirable. The- poison should be thoroughly mixed in water, and applied, if possible, on a clear, dry day, in such a manner as to cover the leaves, rather slowly, with a fine mist. The foliage should never be drenched with a stream. When the leaves begin to drip, spraying should at once cease. Spraying should begin at the top of the trees. This work is most effective when done during May and early June. Where tall street trees or trees in (D £ P £ o fj er t? CD 0> CO EO § | p 8 & - '' :\A&'-*:-'. ';.- . . . '••^^^Mu^ff.^ Section of burlap band raised, showing gypsy moth caterpillars that had gathered beneath it on the trunk of an elm tree. Massachusetts Board of Agriculture Report, 1895. 15 easily accessible woodland are to be sprayed, the use of a power outfit is to be recommended. Steam or gasoline engine sprayers are not so economical of the spray as hand pumps, but make a great saving in the cost of labor. Furthermore, with a properly equipped power outfit the work can be done with the greatest possible rapidity. Where arsenate of lead cannot be obtained, Paris green, one pound to one hundred and fifty gallons of water, may be used, but it should be borne in mind that this insecticide often scorches the foliage, and that it washes off with the first rain. Arsenate of lead is not open to these objections. Burning over infested wood or brush land in May or June is a very effective method of destroying gypsy moth caterpillars, and is the logical complement to the method of egg killing by burning previously described. The trees and bushes should be cut before the hatching time of the eggs, and may be left lying as they fall. A few trees should be left standing, and to these such caterpillars as escape the burning will resort for food, and they may then be killed by spraying or by bnrlapping, as described farther on. The burning of the fallen trees and brush should be done when the cater- pillars are very young and small. At this time they quickly succumb to flame. When the caterpillars are older, burn- ing is less effective. If a strip of burlap or other coarse, cheap cloth is tied about an infested tree trunk by the middle, in such manner that the flaps hang down, the caterpillars, as soon as they have acquired the night- feeding habit, will gather under the cloth and can then be destroyed by crushing or by cutting with a sheath knife. The burlaps should be examined daily, or, when the caterpillars are in great numbers in a locality, several times a day. Burlap can be successfully employed from the latter half of May to the first or middle of August, for the caterpillars commonly pupate under burlap and winged moths lay many eggs under it. It should be borne in mind that the cloth band is in no sense a tree protector; nor is it a trap. Its function is simply to give the shelter which the caterpillars seek by day. Serving as it does as a hiding place for various insects, it is better off the tree than on unless it can be attended to and kept clean. At the end of the caterpillar season, all burlaps should be removed and burned. To insure best results FIG. 8. — Manner of applying the burlap. 16 on high trees, such as street elms, burlaps should be placed around some of the larger limbs, as well as around the trunk, as many caterpillars will seek shelter up in the tree rather than descend to the ground. The most effective results in using the burlap are obtained where cavities, crevices, etc., in the trees have been first filled with cement or covered with zinc and all loose bark removed. If these hiding places are destroyed, nearly all the caterpillars will seek the burlap at some time during the season. Banding a non-infested tree with insect lime or other sticky substance or mixture to keep the caterpillars out of it is an effec- tive means of protection, provided the branches of the tree do not interlock with those of an infested tree, and provided the two do not stand so near that the small caterpillars can pass from the in- fested tree to the other by means of their fine threads. A band, of whatever material composed, to be effective must remain sticky. AVheu caterpillars are numerous in a place, they often, in their attempts to cross the band, bridge it over with their threads and dead bodies, with the result that other caterpillars coming later are able to ascend the tree. For this reason and in order that the cater- pillars which collect beneath may be killed, the sticky band should be frequently inspected. If the many caterpillars which frequently "herd" below the sticky bands are not killed, they will in time leave the trees for shrubbery, where they are less easily destroyed, there to complete their feeding period and transform into moths. Insect lime, raupenleim, tanglefoot, bodlime, printer's ink or even axle grease are among the materials most used for banding. All may be dangerous to the tree and should be removed after the caterpillar season has passed. Destroying Pupcz and Moths. - - Pupae are commonly found un- der the burlap and in other places frequented by the caterpillars. They are often massed under large branches or in other sheltered places. In similar locations the female moths may be found in numbers. Both forms of the insect may be crushed by hand to advantage during July and August. » The Brown-tail Moth. The Eggs. - -The gathering of leaves which bear egg masses is only feasible in the case of shrubs and young trees where the foliage may be reached from the ground. Rose bushes, dwarf fruit trees and ornamental shrubs often may be cleared from the moth in this way. The Caterpillar.- -The winter webs or nests containing the hibernating caterpillars are conspicuous objects at the tips of twigs from October to April. These webs should be sought out 3 o 3 B o 1 p TO O pr TO >-* O CO CD 3 CO td o P p. C CO rt- CD t> 1 o *• £ «> II CD p* o g s i § a 0 TO CD O 03 S3 03 >0 CO 17 and removed by the use of pole shears or long-handled primer?, and then carefully collected and burned. It is more satisfactory, where possible, to burn the webs in a furnace or stove, since, where an open bonfire is used, extra care must be taken to see that none of the webs escape with a mere scorching. When a light snow is on the ground, the work of web destruction and gathering can be carried on to best advantage, although it is desirable that the work should be done as early as possible in the season after the leaves fall. Where tall trees are infested, two men, one to point out the nests from the ground, the other in the tree to cut off the nests, can work more rapidly and economically than one man. It should be borne in mind that webs cut off and thrown on a dump heap as well as those that are beaten off by storms will yield their quota of caterpillars the following spring. Of all means of combating the brown-tail moth, web destruction as above outlined is the remedy par excellence. Spraying is very effective against brown- tail moth caterpillars, since they are much less resistant to the action of poison than are those of the gypsy moth. To secure best results, spraying should be done as soon as the foliage develops in the spring. Five to eight pounds of the arsenate of lead paste to one hundred gallons of water is sufficient for the spray, or, if preferred, one pound of good Paris green kept well stirred in one hundred and fifty gallons of water may be applied. The directions given for spraying gypsy moth caterpillars should be followed in the case of those of the brown-tail moth. Spraying may be done not only in the spring, but also in August when the caterpillars hatch from the egg, except in cases of trees in fruit. Spraying or sprinkling with kerosene emulsion or strong soap suds is often useful in destroying the swarming caterpillars on fences, walks, etc. Such trees as are free from brown-tail moths may be protected from the caterpillars which crawl from neighboring estates by applying a sticky band. The banding will not prevent the infesta- tion of the trees by the female winged moths, which, flying in July, will alight on the foliage of such trees and deposit their egg clusters thereon. It is therefore clear that sticky banding, when used against brown-tail caterpillars, has a more strictly limited useful- ness than in the case of the gypsy moth. FIG. 9. — Pruning shears suitable for removal ot winter webs-. 18 The Pupa>. - -When the caterpillars have changed to pupae en- closed by their cocoons, these may be gathered, although the work is likely to be attended by severe inflammation of the skin from contact with the nettling hairs. Cocoons thus gathered should be placed in a barrel covered with mosquito netting, so that any parasites may escape while the moths are confined. Brown-tail moth pupas are most numerous during the latter half of June. The Moths. --As has already been mentioned, the moths assem- ble in great numbers around electric and other lights. It often occurs that a lamp pole on a morning during the flying season is covered by hundreds if not thousands of the winged moths. In such cases the free use of the hose will wash down and kill the insects. No effective form of lamp trap has yet been devised, and, in fact, it is not at all clear that the brown-tail moth can be com- bated economically in the winged stage. A SUMMAKY OF THE LAW. In the suppression of the gypsy and brown-tail moths, certain duties under the law devolve not only upon the Commonwealth but also upon cities and towns and upon citizens as individuals. Attention is hereby called to chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905, which defines these duties at length and which is printed in full at the end of this bulletin. The following summary of the law is designed to give its salient points : - The Moths are Public Nuisances. The gypsy and brown-tail moths are declared public nuisances and their suppression is required. The Superintendent of Suppression. A superintendent, appointed by the Governor, with power, sub- ject to the Governor's approval, of appointing agents and assist- ants, has entire general charge of the work of suppressing the moths. Duties of Cities, Towns ami Individuals. Cities and towns (under the advice and general direction of the superintendent, and by such agent as they may designate or ap- point) are required, under penalty for neglect, to destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the gypsy and the brown-tail moths within their limits: Exci'/il i//ij that such work is not to be done by cities and towns on property controlled by the Commonwealth ; nor is it to be done upon private property, excepting where the owners of the same 19 fail to destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the moths, in accord- ance with the terms of the official notice to private owners, noted in the section here following : - .\n/ice to J'rinife Oivners. The mayor of every city and the selectmen of every town shall, at suitable times, notify every owner of land located therein which is infested with the moths, requiring him to destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the moths within a specified time. When the mayor or selectmen decide that the cost of such de- struction (on lands contiguous and under one ownership) will exceed one-half of one per cent, of the assessed valuation of the lands, then they may designate in the notice a part only of such lands on which the destruction shall take place. Failure of Private Owners to destroy Moths. If the owner does not, as required by the terms of the aforesaid notice, destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the moths, then the city or town, subject to the approval of the state superintendent, shall destroy them, and shall assess upon such aforesaid lands the actual cost of so doing, to an amount, however, not exceeding one-half of one per cent, of the assessed valuation of the land. This amount, so assessed, shall be collected in the form of taxes, and constitutes a lien upon such lands. Redress by Abatement and Appeal. The assessors may abate the moth assessment in the case of any private land owner decided by them to be unable to pay it because of age, infirmity or poverty. Appeal to the county superior court, with special provision for prompt hearing, is provided by the statute for any person ag- grieved by assessment on account of this work ; provided a com- plaint is entered within thirty days of notice of such assessment. Appropriation by the Commonwealth. To meet the expenses incurred under its moth-suppression law, the Commonwealth has appropriated $300,000. Of this sum, $75,000 may be expended during 1905, $150,000 (and any un- expended balance) diiriiig 1906, and $75,000 (and any unexpended balance) during 1907, up to May 1, 1907, inclusive. For the purpose of experimenting with natural enemies for destroying the moths, $10,000 is additionally appropriated for each of the years 1905, 1900 and 1907. 20 Reimbursements to Cities and Towns. 1. Cities and towns with valuation of real and personal estate of $12,500,000 or more, having spent $5,000 in any one calendar year, shall be reimbursed annually 50 per cent (one-half) of all further expenditure. 2. Cities and towns, with valuation less than $12,500,000 and more than $6,000,000, having spent an amount equal to oiie- twenty-fifth of one per cent of such valuation in one year, shall be reimbursed annually 80 per cent (four-fifths) of all further expenditure. 3. Towns with valuation less than $6,000,000, having spent an amount equal to oiie-twenty-fifth of one per cent of such valua- tion in one year, shall be reimbursed once in sixty days for all further expenditure. Suppression by the Commonwealth. After any town of less than $6,000,000 valuation has expended in suppressing the gypsy and brown-tail moths an amount equal to one-twenty-fifth of one per cent of its real and personal valuation, then the Commonwealth shall expend within such town such additional sum for suppression as the superintendent, with the advice and consent of the Governor, in such case shall recommend. Limits to required Expenditure by dtir* and Towns. No city or town with an assessed real and personal valuation of more than $6,000,000 shall be required to expend in the suppres- sion of the moths, during any one full year, more than one-fifteenth of one per cent of such valuation. No town with an assessed real and personal valuation of less than $6,000,000 shall be required to thus expend during any one full year more than one-twenty-fifth of one per cent of such valuation. Valuations of 1904 taken as Basis. Wherever valuations of real and personal property are referred to in the gypsy and brown-tail moth suppression law, the valuations of 1004 are meant. Wilful Resistance or Obstruction. Wilful resistance to or obstruction of any agent of the Com- monwealth or of any city or town, while lawfully engaged in the execution of the purposes of the moth-suppression law, is forbid- den under penalty. 21 The Moth-suppression Law should be Studii, printed at the end of this bulletin. The close attention of all persons concerned is again hereby directed to this law. WARXIXG. Many property owners prefer to hire experts to destroy the moth pests on their estates, and this is often the most economical and effective plan, particularly in the case of the gypsy moth. This office has prepared a list of reliable persons who are engaged in the work of moth suppression as a business, and the same may be had on request. It should be understood, however, that the superin- tendent assumes no responsibility for the success or the cost of such work. It is to be regretted that several unscrupulous persons have made a practice of applying Avorthless treatments to trees, at large cost to the owner, and even, in some cases, have claimed that they were official representatives of this office. It should be clearly understood that no employee of this office is authorized to do such work, to be paid for directly by property owners. Any case of a person making representations to the contrary should be brought to the attention of the police and this office notified. The superintendent has organized a small corps of trained agents and inspectors who are engaged in examining the infested territory and in directing the work of the various cities and towns. The central office is prepared to advise officials in charge of local work, as well as private citizens, concerning the best methods of com- bating the moths, and to render any assistance in its power. If our trees are to be saved from these insects, the hearty co-operation of all citizens will be necessary. Without such co- operation little can be accomplished; with it, the pests can be brought under control. A. H. KIRKLAND, Superintendent. OFFICE, 6 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Connected by telephone. LAW EELATING TO GlPST AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [CHAP. 381.] AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPRESSING THE GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTHS. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. For the purposes of this act the pupas, nests, eggs and caterpillars of the gypsy and brown tail nioths and said moths are hereby declared public nuisances, and their suppression is authorized and re- quired ; but no owner or occupant of an estate infested by such nuisance shall by reason thereof be liable to an action, civil or criminal, except to the extent and in the manner and form herein set forth. SECTION 2. The governor, by and with the consent of the council, shall appoint a sitperintendent for suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths and shall determine his salary. The governor may, with the con- sent of the council, remove said superintendent at any time for such cause as he shall deem sufficient. In case of the death, removal or resig- nation of the superintendent the governor shall forthwith appoint a suc- cessor. On or before the third Wednesday in January in each year the superintendent shall make a report of his proceedings to the general court, which shall be a public document and shall be printed. Said report shall separate so far as is practicable the expenditures on work against the gypsy moth from those on work against the brown tail moth in each city and town. SECTION 3. The said superintendent shall act for the Commonwealth in suppressing said moths as public nuisances, in accordance with the provisions of this act. For this purpose he shall establish an office and keep a record of his doings and of his receipts and expenditures, and may make rules and regulations. He may employ such clerks, assistants and agents, including expert advisers and inspectors, as he may deem neces- sary and as shall be approved by the governor. He may make contracts on behalf of the Commonwealth ; may act in co-operation with any person, persons, corporation or corporations, including other states, the United States or foreign governments ; may conduct investigations and accumu- late and distribute information concerning said moths ; may devise, use and require all other lawful means of suppressing or preventing said moths ; may lease real estate when he deems it necessary, and, with the approval of the board in charge, may use any real or personal property of 24 the Commonwealth ; may at all times enter upon the land of the Common- wealth or of a municipality, corporation, or other owner or owners, and may use all reasonable means in carrying out the purposes of this act ; and, in the undertakings aforesaid, may, in accordance with the provisions of this act, expend the funds appropriated or donated therefor ; but no expenditure shall be made or liability incurred in excess of such appro- priations and donations. SECTION 4. Cities and towns by such public officer or board as they shall designate or appoint, shall, under the advice and general direction of said superintendent, destroy the eggs, pupie and nests of the gypsy and brown tail moths within their limits, except in parks and other property under the control of the Commonwealth, and except in private property, save as otherwise provided herein. When any city or town shall have expended within its limits city or town funds to au amount in excess of five thousand dollars in any one calendar year, in suppressing gypsy or brown tail moths, the Commonwealth shall reimburse such city or town to the extent of fifty per cent of such excess above said five thousand dollars. Cities or towns, where one twenty-fifth of one per cent of the assessed valuation of real and personal property is less than five thousand dollar-, and where the assessed valuation of real and personal property is greater than six million dollars, shall be reimbursed by the Commonwealth to the extent of eighty per cent of the amount expended by such cities or towns of city or town funds in suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths in any one calendar year, in excess of said one twenty -fifth of one per cent. In the case of towns where the assessed valuation of real and personal property is less than six million dollars, after they have expended in any one calendar year town funds to an amount equal to one twenty-fifth of one per cent of their assessed valuation of real and personal property, the Commonwealth shall expend within the limits of such towns, for the pur- pose of suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths, such an amount in addition as the superintendent with the advice and consent of the governor shall recommend. Disbursements made by said last named towns in excess of said one twenty-fifth of one per cent shall be reimbursed by the Com- monwealth every sixty days ; but in the case of all others the Common- wealth shall reimburse cities and towns annually according to the pro- visions of this act. No city or town shall be entitled to any reimbursement from the Com- monwealth until it has submitted to the auditor of the Commonwealth itemized accounts and vouchers showing the definite amount expended by it for the purpose of this act; nor shall any money.be paid out of the treasury of the Commonwealth to cities or towns, pursuant to the provi- sions of this act, until said vouchers and accounts have been approved by the auditor of the Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section the years nineteen hundred and five and nineteen hundred and seven shall be considered half years, and the valua- tion for the year nineteen hundred and four shall be taken as a basis. 25 SECTION 5. When, in the opinion of the superintendent, any city or town is not expending a sulttcuuit amount for the abatement of said nui- sance, then the superintendent shall, with the advice and consent of tin- governor, oi'der such city or town to expend such an amount as the super- intendent shall deem necessary : prori