Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-05-08
BRowN-rAu. MOTH PARASITE,

Bulletin From Director Woods of
Experiment Station.
Director Woods, of the Maine sgrieul-
cultural experiment station at orono,
in bulletin in relation to the browu-tsil
moth parasites, says;
about February Is appeared a notice
from the Maine agricultural experiment
station concerning parasite that hiber-
mates in the adult condition in the winter
nest OF the downfall moth. Since that
time several correspondents have recog-
aized that parasite in winter nests which
they collected and have sent them in TO
the station for verification.
1.-THE station entomoiogists have con-
tinued a series of observations on winter
nests collected in various parts of the
state, and have more encouragement still
to offer in the fact that nests collected at
Orono the last of February began to yield,
March Q, a second and smaller parasite
which has survived the winter in eonsid-
cradle numbers. This minute insect,
measuring only about lilo inch in length,
is apparently a species introduced from
Europe about five years ago and released
in Massachusetts shortly aiterward.
Unlike its larger relative, which waits
until spring before laying her eggs, the
young OF this second introduced species
feed on the little caterpillars OF the
brown-t tail moth while they are in the
winter nest in the fall, and leave their
bodies shrunken and dried in appearance
While they do all their feeding in the fall,
they do not emerge as winged insects I'M
til two or three weeks after the time for
the caterpillars to become active in the
spring.
"What proportion of the mortality of
the brown-tail caterpiilars in their nests
this winter is due to weather conditions
and what to this tiny parasite, il is i'm
possible to state, but, OF this we may be
sure, that the parasites have survived the
winter in encouraging numbers so far
north as Orono, and that their presence
means the death of at least a part OF the
caterpillars in the winter nests.
sThe method recommended previously
for the,relesse of NJ. aerens near infested
woodlands would also apply to this, only
as this later parasite is longer in emerging
from the nests in the spring, the nests
would need to be preserved in natural
outdoor conditions for about three weeks
after as caterpIilafs themselves become
active. A strip of cotton batting fastened
to the outside of the barrel or other re-
ceptacle in which the brown-tail winter
nests have been placed can be smeared
with tree tangiefaot so as to trap the
brown-tail caterpillars when they begin to
crawl, but the parasite, becoming winged.
will fly off unframed.
Sup to the present time imported para
sites OF the brown-tail moth, originally
established In Massachusetts, fave been
received from half dozen counties in the
southwestern part OF the State. The re-
cent discovery OF the smaller species in
Orono gives this locality the record for the
most mort herly range thus far noted. Be
sides these two important insects which
have already proven their ability to with
stand Maine winters, many other bene-
fetal predaceous and parasitic insect enc
mics OF the gypsy and brown-tail moths
have been started on their career of use
fuiness in this country.
"Among these are some which para
sitiza the freshly-Iaid eggs; others attack
the caterpillars, and still others tine pupae
within their cocoons. OF the numerous
kinds OF parasites of the brown-tail which
have been imported and liberated in
Massachusetts, five or six different species
are nov apparently firmly established and
two or three others are gaining a foot
hold. Whether they will all spread as
far north as Maine and maintain them
selves is a matter of much interest and
importance"