Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-03-12
VERY DESTRUCTIVE MOTHS.
INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNTRY ON
TREES FROM FRANCE.

TREES FROM FRANCE.
We have just received notice that
seventy-five nests of the brown tail
moth (enproctis chrysorrhoea) have
been found on apple, pear, cherry and
other stocks received from France, and
wish to call the attention of nursery
men and importers of stock of all kinds
to the serious nature of this insect pest,
and request that every one who has
purchased any stock from abroad, noti-
fly the state entomologist, at once, in
order that this stock may be inspected.
The known tail moth is common
European insect almost as destructive
as the well known gypsy moth port
hetria dispar,) and was introduced into
the country at Somerville, Mass, in
1890, on nursery stock imported from
Europe. The gypsy moth reached this
country about 1868. Massachusetts is
the unfortunate state inSwhich it es-
capped.
While number of insects have been
introduced into this country from Eu-
rope, these are two of the worst. For
tunately they have.not become general
ly distributed, s.being still confined to
the New England states.
Almost all fruit, shade, ornamental
and forest trees, except pines and other
conifers, are attacked by the brown tail
moth, and the gypsy moth includes also
the pines and other conifers and ever
green's in its list of food plants. Al
most nothing escapes injury where both
these insects are present.
They entirely defoliate trees after
they become plentiful. Trees wholly
defoIiated in this way, flor two or three
years in succession are usually killed,
and partial defoliation greatly cheeks
the growth and causes distinct loss in
value. The great destruction of orch
ards, shade and forest trees led to the
appropriation of large sums of money
by the state of Massachusetts, and the
United States government for fighting
these pests, and preventing their spread
to other parts of the country.
Up to the year 1900 Massachusetts
had spent, approximately, $1,5OO, 900
under the gipsy moth commission and
the board of agriculture to prevent the
spread of these serious insect pests, and,
if possible, eradicate them. These pests
were so we'll subdued in 1900 that the
appropriation was allowed to lapse.
The next few years showed, however,
that this was great mistake and in
1905 the Massachusetts legislat re
made an appropriation of $50, 600 per
annum for this work, and in 1906 the
appropriation was increased to $225, 600.
The national government, has, also,
taken hand in this work, and spent
several hundred thousand dollars in the
last five years in conjunction with the
New England states to control and pre-
vent the dissemination of these serious
insect pests. Every encouragement
should be given the federal authorities
in preventing the spread of these pests.
Fortunate, indeed, Will we be, if they
succeed in preventing their spread to
our state for even few years.
They are, no doubt, among the oldest
insects of Europe, but do not become
very destructive oftener than once in
three or four years, because of the num-
erous parasitic insects, which prey up
on them and help to keep them under
control. When such an insect is in
troduced into another country, its
parasites are often left behind. Also,
the insect itself, thrives where its par
asites do not. There is, usually, then,
a long period in which such an insect
deprived of its natural checks, increases
and spreads out of all reason.
Part of the appropriation of the ma
tional government is now being used
in introducing the primary parasites
of these two insects to help in their
control. Even with all their natural
enemies to help hold them in check,
they are very destructive and every es'
fort should be put forth to prevent the
spread of these pests to other parts OF
the country.
J. l.. PHILLIPS,
State Entomologist.