Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-04-16
MOTH PARASITE.
Suggestion by Director Woods, OF
Maine Experiment station.

Suggestion by Director Woods Oh
Maine Experiment station.
More than 10000 winter nests OF the
browntail moth were imported from other
countries during five years by the United
States bureau OF entomology for the par
pose OF liberating in the country such
beneficial parasites as hibernate in the
winter nest OF this pest.
The entomoiogists OF the Maine agricnl-
turai experiment station obtained last
winter two species OF imported parasites
from nests collected in Maine, one species
having worked as far north as 0rouo. As
the parasite laboratory where the work of
handling imported parasites Is at Melrose
Highlands, Mass, 1t will be seen that
these two insects have already spread
over a wide territory.
Several other species of even greater
value have also been liberated in Massa-
chusetts, and airy one in Maine having
browntail nests on his premises can aid in
the protection and distribution of these
imported friends by putting himself to
very little trouble.
browntail nests In mid-winter, while
effective in killing the caterpillars, also
destroys parasites IL present. A modifica-
ton OF this method could well be made by
which the parasite Ia allowed to escape
before the destruction Of the nests. As
heretofore, the nests should be removed
from the orchard or shade trees during the
winter, but should be held and kept under
normal out door conditions until the first
warm days Of spring, when both parasites
and caterpillsrs become active. The nests
as soon as cut from the tree may be placed
in barrel or other receptacle, the outside
OF which, at some distance from the top
edge, should be smesred with tree tangle-
foot, or some similar sticky preparation, so
that the emerging caterpillars can be
c~ught in their attempt to escape. 1t
might be well to tie wsd OF cloth around
the outside OF the barrel in band, and
keep this sticky with tree tangiefoot.
This met od OF dealing with the nests,
while destroying the caterpillsrs, ri YES at
the same time chance for the parasites
to fly sway and continue their natural
depredations ON the browhtaii moths. The
parasitic rtnhii, SHfHSs uhfhs lOuI -Niukt0
fly. about three and one sixteenth OF an
inch in length, would fly of unhsrmed IL
the tangleioot is not placed on the upper
rim of the barrel. II Is suggested that
these barrels be placed in the vicinity Of
woodlots in which browntail nests are
known or supposed to be present. The
parasites would thus aid in reducing the
infestation in the woodlands as well as
being enabled to breed and spread.
As some of the parasites which hiber-
nate in the winter nests Of the browntagi
moth will also kill the gypsy caterpiIisrs,
1t will be seen that double purpose can
be served by aiding in their distribution.
Careiessness in dealing with the gath
cred winter nests should OF course be
avoided. as an overturned barrel OF live
in the vicinity OF orchard or
forest trees might prove much more
serious matter than burning the nests in
the first place - parasites and all.
K. +. Philbrook, of the Maine State
department OF agriculture at Augusta, is
in sympathy with this means OF combat
ing the browntsil moth, and is ready to
advise anyone in doubt as to how to
proceed.