The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-15
PROTECTION
AGAINST The
LEOPA Ard MOTH
Measures BY Which Shade
Trees May Be Protected
Against Insect Pest.

Washington, Feb. 15-The injection
of bisuTphid of carbon into the bur-
rows of the leopard moth and the cut
ting off and destroying of affected
branches are recommended in a new
bulletin of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture as the most effective
measures for getting rid of this pest
The insect feeds on the wood of a
large number of shade trees and
shrubs and does much damage along
the Atlantic Seaboard between Massa-
chusetts and New Jersey and in the
Hudson River Valley. In the cater
pillar, or larva stage, the leopard moth
eats into the tree upon which it feeds
and not only checks its growth but so
weakens it that it is often broken by
heavy wind STORMS.
The presence of~the pest is indicat-
ed by the willing Of twigs or branches
and by accommodations of sawdust-lilze
castings at the entrance of the bur-
rows. The discovery of this evidence,
says the new bulletin ''The Leopard
Moth, A Dangerous Imported Insect
Enemy of Shade Trees by L. o. How
ard and r. H. Chittenden, should be
followed promptly by the pruning
away of all the smaller injured twigs
or branches. The larger ones may be
cut back behind the injury and the
stubs covered with grating wax to
prevent the entrance of other insects.
should be promptly burned in order to
destroy the caterpillars within. This
precaution also should be followed
with all branches that have fallen to
the ground after wind storms. Where
ever the trees are so badly injured that
there is little hope of their recovery,
it IS best to take them out and
promptly destroy them. In the case
of trees which are only slightly af-
fected and especially in the case of
large and valuable trees, biSu1phid of
carbon can be used effectively. 1t is
injected into the openings of the bur-
rows with a long-spouted oil can or
glass syringe and the openings are
closed Immediately afterwards, prefer
ably with grating wax.
Carbon bisulphid must be handled
with care and precautions taken to
avoid danger from fire and the in
ha1ing of fumes. This means that the
work. On the other hand, there need
be no fear, of the liquids damaging
the hands.
The leopard moth in it's adult form
has a spotted appearance, the semi
transparent white wings being thickty
dotted with blackish, dark blue or
greenish spots. There are also large
black spots on the thorax and dark
cross bands on the white abdomen.
The moth lays its eggs either sing1y
or in groups during the summer
usually selecting a convenient place
to deposit them, crevices in the rough
bark of trees. The larvae or cater
pillars hatch about ten days after
wards and at once penetrate the living
wood. AS they feed they burrow tun-
nels which frequently encircle com
pIete1y the tree or branch. When the
larvas has grown too large for the
branch in which it is feeding, it crawls
out and moves to one more suitable.
AS the insect remains in the larva
stage feeding in this way for nearly
two years, it is capable Of doing a
great deal of damage before it trans
forms to the pupa or chrysalis stage.
This it does in May or later and some
time between, May and the end of Sep
TENDER it energies as an adult or
moth.
Damage by this borer in large parks
is often so severe as to render it
necessary to establish a system of in
spection. wherever possible the bisul-
phid of carbon should be used. Care
should also be taken to see that the
insect is not allowed to breed in
growth that is near valuable trees
The use of fertilizers will strengthen
the trees to withstand the attacks of
this and other insects.