Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-15
FIGHTING THE GYPSY
MOTH WITH PARASITES
Millions Are Released to Do Their
Work in New England.

+ Twelve million, nine hundred and
| forty-seven thousand, seven hundred
| and thirteen parasites which pray on
the. gypsy moth were released in Mas
/ sachusetts and New Hampshire last
+! year by the bureau of entomology OF
the u. s. department of agriculture
| OF these, 661.713 were japanese para
| sites known as Schedules kuvanae
They were liberated in % towns In
Massachusetts, and II in New Hamp-
shire. Another enemy of the gypsy
| moth, known as anastatus bifasciatus
was colonized in Il TOWNS in Maine
81 towns in New Hampshire and II
! towns in Massachusetts. In all. H.
! 286 colonies of this species contin-
ing 12,2S6.000 individuals, were lib
Grated to aid in the work of controll-
ing the gypsy moth pest. These two
parasites place their eggs in the egg
of the gypsy moth, the eggs of the
| parasites hatch into larvae, or grubs
and these feed upon the developing
caterpillar within the egg shell and kill
| it before the egg has "a chance to
hatch. According to the annual report
of the chief of that bureau just pub
lished by the u. S. department of ag-
riculture, the parasites previously re-
leased seem to be gaining foothold
and many of them are now found in
larger numbers and over a wider ter
ritory than ever before. The caloso-
ma beetle, another insect enemy of
the month, the report states. contin-
/
emily the beetles are not so numerous
in certain localities as they were last
year.
In New England, in cooperation
with state officials and other state
agencies. considerable progress is be-
ing made in fighting the gypsy moth:
This year in two lows in New
Hampshire, two in Vermont, four in
Massa chusetts and three in Connecti-
cut. the insect has apparently been
Extensive n
determine its spread showed that the
moth has been found in Is towns
where it was not known to exist be-
fore. This gives a net increase of
only four infested townss which the en-
tomologists say is much smaller
number than has been reported in
previous years. All of the infesta-
tions discovered in these towns have
been carefully treated and a large
amount of creosoting of egg masses
and banding and spraying of trees
has been done in towns Immediately
inside the border. During the year
lead were used and over $4,000 miles
of roadway and $4,000 acres of wood
land have been examined.
To prevent the spread of gypsy and
and forest products the inspectors ex-
aInined 37,4 shipments. 664 of
which were found to be. infested. The
infested specimens were treated be-
fore their Shipment was permitted
Considerable attention also was Civ
en- to securing data on methods of
thinning infested woodland with the
idea of eliminating favorite food
plants of the gypsy moth caterpillar.
In connection with this, considerable
information has. been gathered con-
corning the best methods of utilizing
the wood products grown in the in
tested areas so as to make more prof
table markets for trees which should
be eliminated as part of the control
work. ..3
The severity of the brown tail moth
infestation has steadily decreased, and
the insect is by no means as abund
ant as it was the previous year. The
various lighthouses along the coast
of Connecticut and Long Island have
been examined, but no migrating
moths have been found. Fewer
coming from infested regions during
moths have been found on trains
the season when the moths are hyink
than in any year since the work has
been begun. This indicates quite
clearly that the moth is not spreading
into new territory, and the conditions
in the territory known to be infested
showed marked improvement and in
many of the towns where this insect
once caused much damage and anoy
once it has done little injury during
the year.