Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-27
Gypsy and Brown Tail
Moths Prey Of Parasites !.
Lexington Plantation People
Want State Road Changed.
State Assessors Meeting In Saga.
dahoc and Lincoln Counties,
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Friday, July 20, at 10 A. M.

In connection with the work of the
PARASITES which are being introduced
into this country for the purpose of
destroying the gypsy and brown-tail
moths, and of which there have al
ready been planted in Maine a consid-
cradle number as an experiment. the
reports which come from Massachu-
sets, where the parasites are already
well established, are very encouraging
In a recent interview in Boston DR..
l.. O. Howard. head of the national
bureau of entomology in the depart
ment of agriculture at Washington. D.
G.. who is we'll known in Maine for
mis- assistance and advice given in the
crusade which is being waged against
the gipsies and the brown tails, said
in speaking of the work of the para
sites said:
Relative to the parasite work. it
is in a very satisfactory condition
We have been receiving shipments of
parasites regularly and this season
have been receiving parasitiZed ma
terial from Spain and Portugal for
the first time. The parasites coming
from these two countries are prac-
ticallv the same as those we have
been receiving from the south of
France in past years.
Our parasite shipments have not
been coming in such good condition
this season, up to date. as in the past
two wears, but we expect the ship
ments to be better from now on.
What I mean by the shipments not
being so satisfactory as formerly. is
that we have not been securing any
thing like so many parasites from a
given amount of parasitized material
as in the shipments of last season.
"Our past work is beginning to show
good results. however. for we have
now no less than six species of para
sites which are spreading and in
creasing at a considerably greater
rate than the moth pests. That is
wonderfully encouraging to us and
should be so to the general public.
comfy this lweek Mr. Fiske. the fed
eral governments expert entomologist.
has found in the fields and woodlands
parasites known as zygobothria. which
have been three generations in the
woodlands. and up to this week have
never been found before. 1t was sup
posed by the parasite experts that
these insects, which resemble common
house flies. had failed to thrive un-
der conditions in this country That
they are now being found after being
only three generations in the wood
lands indicates that they are multi
plying in good shape. as some of our
most promising parasites were not
found after being liberated until they
had passed six generations in the
field
"Scme of the parasites which have
been liberated i'm the past are known
new to have spread from the original
point of liberation over radius OF
eight to ten miles. and yet when they
were but three generations old had
not been found anywhere in the wood
lands
Speaking of the productions BEETLE
called calosoma svcophanta. DR.. How
ard said that there were already
100000 full grown beetles at liberty
In Massachusetts, and that it was eStl-
mated that there were fully l0.ooOooo
larvae of the beetles at large in the
woods and fields The full grown
beetles will eat as many as from ~
to 40 caterpillars in day. and the
young larvae will consume probaoly
40 caterpillars each in the season.
Tho beetles. live for several years ana
multiply rapidly and are expected TO
prove a strong factor against the
caterpllars of the moths.
OF the parasites which have been
planted in some of tho worst infested
l.. tIn
Is of course small as compared VII"
that of Massachusetts. the results thuS
far secured have been very SatiSiac
tory and it is considered likely '''a'
another season tho parasites may w
introduced into the State IN muc''
larger numbers.
Notices We're issued from the ohio'
n h. .t.,ln