Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-30
"FLAscHERiE" DISEASE.
Is Killing OF CaterpilIars by Whole
sale in Massachusetts,.

Boston, July 2s.-It appears that "fas-
cherfe" or wilt disease" is very common
MES in MASSACHUSETTS, and is killing the
caterpillars by wholesale. So prevalent
is this condition that, it will become ap-
parent to anybody who looks for it in
the badly infested sections. Whether it
be the disease known as 'fascherie' or
some other sickness has not been deter
mined because it is difficult to differen-
so long that its fixed peculiarities have
and conditions that bring it about are
well known
Within the last few days both State
Forester Rane and Superintendent Worth
ley have made tours through the field.
partIN to see how prevalent the disease
politan district. as. they expected. 1t has
spread all over the Newtons, was OBJ
served in Georgetown, Winchester Ar
lington. Lynnfield. Danvers., Weston,
Gloucester and to the New Hampshire
line as far west as Methuen. In Bourne
and Middleboro there are two colonies of
gypsy moths. and both are infested with
Any body can identify it by looking into
the infested trees. Caternillars will be
f to T gat in the desd Ss os snd
part of the body will stick to the tree
and the upper part will hang. AS the
caterpillar dies the inside disintegrates
part of the body while the upper part be-
comes empty and withers. hanging like
dry skin.
In sections favorable to its development
says Superintendent Worthley. and it is
frequently rs to S. per cent. Through
years of observation 1t has become APP
parent that it is produced by over
crowding. the same as overcrowding in
tenements4 causes diseases among human
beings, and this conclusion is confirmed
by experiments; The = ssy-moth men
ten days by causing the caterrillars to
crowd together. and today practically all
the crowded colonies are sick while the
scattered over wide space are enjoying
good health. Standing on a hill COM
handing view over wide area Of de-
ciduous trees one may with considerable
moth colonies from the general appear
ance of the tree tops. Even in the mid
$; summer of 1897 this was noticeable
cuar aSy in parts the q Lynn ne a Sife sad psl
woodland colonies. Where the trees were
banded with stick materials to prevent
the ascent of the caterpillars at their
found in quantities running as high as
half bushel. while throughout the large
colony the bodies of hundreds of dead in
sects could be seen hanging on almost most
supply and go on starvation rations
they wander about in quest of food and
huddle in thick punches. weakened by
hunger and susceptible to disease. AL
most invariably the wilt disease" sets in
under such conditions.
So general is the disease that it even
has hampered the laboratory work at
Harvard Medical School where It is be-
ing studied under the direction of DR.
Theobofd Smith. OF the caterpillars col
lected for the experiments, seventy-five
per cent died from the disease contracted
in the field and it became necessary to
go to the western part Of the state or to
the research. work This research is In
full progress but the results arrived at
will not be analysed before DR.. Smiths
return from Europe.