The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-05-12
CATERPILLAR NESTS
50, ARE NOW ABUNDANT
Commissioner of Agriculture Tells How
Pest May Be Handled in
Present Stage

ASoOAO oOaSC'
The unusual abundance of tent cat
erplllars this year makes it necessary
TO call the attention of the general
pubic to this destructive pest, its i'm
porance; and ways and means of con
troll. Since the caterpillars were quite
abundant last year, the egg clusters
were round IN considerable numbers
TINS winter and early spring and now
with the Matching of the eggs, cater
pillars are with us again in destructive
numbers. At this season of the wear
the tents may be seen in the crotches
OF the trees or the crotches of the
branches which are nearly filled with
the young caterpillars which have lust
Matched out. 1t is the caterpillar stage
Just now appearing which is so destruc-
tive and which demands immediate at
tentIon. Although this insect is not a
new pest in Vermont, the reader NAV
be interested in a brief account of its
life history. Starting with the present
stage, the life cycle is about as fol-
| lows:
The little caterpillars hatch lust as
the leaf buds are expanding in the
| spring. Very soon webs are spun in
the crotches of the branches. Wild
| cherry trees, apple trees, plum trees.
etc, are the favorite food plants but
ornamental plants are frequently in
| tested. In case the caterpillars are
abundant, complete defoliation of the
trees may occur. The little caterpiIlars
cooperate II spinning~the web which
Is situated in a sheltered place for the
| OF Tfrl,+
periods. The caterpillars are full
grown in five or six weeks, after which
they spin cocoons. After having found
a suitable place under the loose bark
on fence, in the grass or rubbish be-
meath tree, they settle down in
tuft of white silky material where they
are transformed to the pupa. After
three weeks the adult moth energies
from the pupa stage to continue the
life cycle. These adults generally oc-
eur during the month of July. The
moths are of two kinds, male and fe-
male, which copulate, and lay egg clus-
ters which may be found by the latter
part of August or September and from
thence on until the eggs hatch the fol.
lowing spring. The egg masses which
are so frequently seen form a grevish
brown band around the twig, closely re
sembling the branch in color and con.
tanning as many as 200 eggs placed end
to end covered with a frothy glue
which gives toughness and a smooth
| appearance to the mass. The egg mass
es may be one-half or two-thirds of al
; inch in length and form a slight en-
, largement on the twigs. Each cater
, pillar that, is allowed to live this year
? not only does harm, but may lay 2Ot
5 eggs for as many worms next year
' There is but one generation OF cater
. pillars per year ..e. .".t
/ There are two stages in the hf,
- history of the tent caterpillar whicl
- may be easily touched in matters OF
T. control. The egg clusters may be Gu
e from the twigs in the winter and des
troyed by burning or burying. This i
. the simplest and probably the most in
= expensive means of control but t
}. which attention is infrequently givcr
Y The caterpillars may be killed by dies
V troving the nest or by being poisone
d by the use of sprays. Paris green a
Il the rate of a pound in 30 gallons o
e water to which should be added on
d pound of lime; or arsenate of lead a
paste at the rate of three pounds to 5
/. gallons of water are the two most con
/ mon and most effective insectide
If Either of these solutions may be spray
o ed on to the trees which are infeste
r and if the work is thoroughly done an
application repeated, after an interv;
o of week or two as the leaves not no
y open may appear, will dispatch til
< creatures.
q The nests, which are now abundaT
lie may be gathered from the trees by ii
1t use of a pole tipped with cloth a.
TO tached so as to wipe the nest from I'll
re plant.
" The use of a kerosene or gasohr
t torch is not to be recommended bt
c. cause of probable injury to the tree
Of and the danger of starting fires.
r dip of kerosene applied by means of
Ill cloth attached to a pole of sultab
lg length has been found by some to be
I'd satisfactory means of getting rid
IT. the nests.
r. The caterpillars are somewhat he
ty in check by birds and by pedaclous
tie sects although the latter are not album
tie ant enough to be of any great value.
ld therefore becomes clear that 1T IS t
It duty of every individual proper
Il owner who has plants which are 1
tested or subject to infestatlon to u
- prompt measures for the control OF Il
pest. D..-,,
Commissioner of Agriculture.