Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-05
STATE HOUSE.
Interesting Facts Con-
corning the Gypsy Moth.
New Pest Puts the Brown-TaiI
Completely Out Of Sight.
Officers or Maine State Dairying
Association to Meet at Capitol.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Thursday, Nov. IS, at 10 A. M.

With the report that the gypsy moth
has made its way over the boundary
line of the State, and there seems to be
but little doubt that the report is cor
rect, the people of Maine are confront
ed with pest compared with the raw
ages of which those of the brown-taiI
moth are reduced to the minimum for
while the latter attacks only certain
kinds Of vegetation, the gypsy moth
attacks and destroys everything IN
sight in the line of vegetation, includ-
ing nearly every useful grass. plant,
Hover, garden or field crop, fruit
shade or forest tree which COWS in the
state, and is a menace 10 the agricul-
turc, horticulture and forestry of the
entire country. This moth is consid-
cred the most fearful insect pest in
America.
The Department of Agriculture is
making preparations for conducting
some thorough work in York county.
where the presence of the moth is re-
ported, with a view to heading it off
at the point where it has commenced
its inroad. and if possible 10 check it
before it has Il chance to spread to
other localities. and no pains will b.,
spared to make tn investigation COM
plcte in every detail. Prof. f. F.
EItchings will conduct the work and 1t
is hoped that the pest can be halted
and destroyed where it is.
In connection with the above the fol-
lowing description of the pest may be
timely. The appearance of the male
and female of the gypsy moth is very
different. for while the female is about
two inches across the wings and of a
grayish white in color with black
markings on the wings, the male is
smaller and blackish brown in color
with black markings on the wings. The
body Of the female is light buff AMI
that of tn" male black and brown. Thu
female of the gypsy moth. however, can
readily be distinguished from othcr
white or whitish winged moths of sim
liar size by the fact that though She
often iluttcrs her wings she never real
~ flies
The eggs of the moth are laid in Az
gust and in clusters of 800 or more, AMI
are deposited upon trees, shrubs. bould
erS, fences. walls, the sides Of build
ings. in rubbish heaps and many Other
situations, and as they are aid the fc
male mixes and covers them with down
rom her body and finally moulds them
into a cluster. These egg clusters or
dinarily resemble to the eye and touch
small S:!k-likc cushions of a bright
buff or sponge" color. lUt they ar.
sometimes blrarhcd nearly whit" ~
stained quite dar; by the weather.
When examined closely they are no.
| easily mistaken. The lives of hntli tn
male and female moths are very
brief. the female dying soon after she
has laid her eggs.
The egg clusters remain where They
are formed through tho winter AMI the
greater rart of the spring. Matching
| into catcrpilars il May. These arc
very small on Matching. but grow rap
| idly and feed upon whatever vrGrtl-
| ton is at hand. AS they grow they
| periodically shed their skins and about
| tho middl" of July many Of thcn have
| attained n length of about two inches.
| whit" others are larger or smaller.
| About the last week in July tho bulk
| Of tn" rat"rpllarS have changed into
| the pupua or chrySalis form, in which
| they remain about two weeks before
| changing into winged moths. During
the first half Of August the bulk Of the
| moths crawl from tn" puIa skins or
| cases leaving them hanging empty.
Then the female lays her eggs. AMI
having completed her mission dies
| Gypsy moth catcrI lars of any age ar
| decidedly hairy. When first hatchcd
| the bodies of tho tiny catcrpiIars are
quite light in color. but in a few hours
| they darkcn to Il brownish or grayiSh
| hue. The head of the caterpillar is
| larC" in proportion Ia the body. this he
| ing especially noticeable when the cat
"rrillarS are small. Tho gypsy moth
| caterpillar is easily identified by Il
| double row of blue spots followed by
| n double row Of crimson spots. for no
caterpillar in New England except the
ono in question is spotted with blue
and crimson4 It should he remember
81. however. that the gypsy moth cat
Ierpillars when quite young and small
| appear tn the ordinary observer to he
unspotted. and until they grow the
| length of an inch and half they do
not always show the crimson and blue
spots very distinctly.
The board of officers of tho Maine
state DairyinC Association will meet
at the Capitol Saturday for the purpose
of deciding upon the program for tho
dairy conference, which will he held
during the first week in December. the
place of meeting this year being Farm
| The annual meeting Of the Maine
Sportsmen's Fish and Game Associa-
ton will he held at the Capitol on the
/ first Tuesday in February.
1 20 Nf ncl,, ~ -