Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-28

In consideration of the serious cater
pillar infestation of beech, maple and
other trees in the southern part OF the
state a statement of the situation is
made BY the Maine Agricultural Expert
ment Station for the benefit of people in
the infested districts who are at present
much alarmed.
Although this species, one of the
APPOINTMENTS" Heterocampa guttivitta
is present to slight extent in most
parts of the state, North Fryeburg,
Bridgton, Upper Gloucester, South
Leeds, Wayne and vicinity are In the
thickest of phenomenal attack. Fully
fifty acres, for example, is reported
slipped near Mattocks, these caterpil-
lars leaving the trees naked as in winter.
II. guttivitta is common caterpillar
and present usually in such small mum.
bers that 1t passes unnoticed; birds and
insect parasites and other natural enc
mics holding it in check. Last season
and this, however, it has gained extra
ordinary Roadway in forest growth par
ticularly in beech and maple. Apple
orchards also are suffering heavily and
1t 10 for the sake of orchard and shade
trees that the following suggestions are
recommended
These caterpillars are readily shaken
or Jared from the trees and this fact
leads to the suggestion that by COM
bination of jarring and banding much
injury may be prevented, at least in the
apple orchard and on the home grounds.
After the trees infested have been band
ed, a boy with padded mallet may be
sent into them to jar the limbs on which
the caterpillars are working, beginning
at the top.
Protection by "banding" has proven
very successful as a remedial measure
with such csterpillars, as it prevents
their reclimbing. The trunks of trees
are painted with band of "tangle foot"
such as used against the gypsy caterpil-
Lac. Or band of tarred paper may be
placed about the trunk and smeared
with thick coating of equal parts OF
lard and sulphur. This mixture should
not be applied directly to the bark of
the tree as there is danger of injury, but
with the tarred paper it Is safe and
effectual. In orchards which have been
protected by arsenicsl sprays early in
the season these caterpillars have been
poisoned while they were too small to
do much damage.
AS these caterpillars burrow an inch
or so in the ground to pupate and re-
main there all winter, thorough cultiva-
ton or pasturing the orchard with hogs
this fall and next spring would be very
helpful against another seasons attack.
Where hogs can be turned into wood
lois this is desirable. Burning over
waste strips that have been infested this
season would also help.
This caterpillar grows to about Ia
inches in length; is green in color with
brown markings along the back. The
pupa which remains in the ground dur
ing the winter is a shiny brown object
about one inch long, and the mature in
sect which energies in the spring Is
notified gray moth expanding a little
less than two inches.
1t is not predicted that such a serious
attack will extend over many years, as
the natural enemies are likely to get the
upper hand again. Meanwhile, how
ever, much damage may be done and
where 1t Is possible remedial measures
should be applied. These caterpillars
fed until late in August last season so
that solid month of their devastation
is still to be expected before the last of
them pupate.
Bulletin No. 14S of the Maine Agricul-
tural Experiment Station gives an &C
count OF the attack of last season and a
circular of the Forest Tent Caterpillar
contains suggestions which would be Of
service also for combating 1.-THE Prom.
inents." These are distributed free Of
charge to any who apply to Maine Agri.
cultural Experiment Station, Orono,
Maine.