Evening journal., 1918-06-25
Life Habits and Control of
the White Marked 7ussock Moth

Having been working on the trees In
and around Wilmington for the past
I two months, l have had occasion "a
notice that the city trees are very badly
infested with what is known as the
4 White Marked Tussock Moth.
These moths were first imported by
\ French naturalist in the year 1860
1869. at Maiden. Mass, while expert
menting with native silkwOrms. In
some manner the pests getaway from
him and In a short time the whole city
was so overrun with the caterpillars
that many houses were vacated and
then the work Of determination began.
During the years 1890 TO 1900 the state
OF Massachusetts, spent si,i75,O00 on the
work, and had the pest well under con-
/. troll when the legislature refused to ap-
propriate any more money 10 continue
the work.
. The present plan OF the campaign
against the tussock moth in New Eng
land is to hold them in check until suf-
= flcient predaci0us insects and parasites
can be introduced and acclimated TO
hold them in check. Up 10 the pres
ent time some important predacieus
beetles which feed upon the larvae and
pupae, and ten or more parasites at
tacking the eggs. larvae and pupae have
been successfully introduced and col
onized. In 1912 IL was estimated that
fully 30 per cent Of the larvae were
killed by these parasites.
Although these pests have caused a
heavy loss TO the country, they have
not been an unmitigated evil. They
have brought us TO a full realization
OF the varle and importance Of our
trees, and OF the necessity Of taking
care OF them and projecting them
against their native and foreign en-
cnies.
The white marked tussock moth,
(hemerocampa leucostigms) is prlmar-
fly city shade tree pest, although II
becomes quito injurious TO orchards at
times.
The tussock moth larvae are very
conspicuous with their bright red heads
and the three pencils of long black
hairs, two at the front part Of the body
and one at the back Along the back
are four large tufts, or tussOcks Of
white hairs, and between these and the
anal plume are two bright red tuber-
cles.
The white marked tussock moth lar-l
vac feed upon soft maple, American
elm, h0rse-chestnut, buckeye, Euro
pean linden, box elder, apples, pears,
aud plums, and at times cause very Sc
ri0us injury. They also feed upon other
trees 10 a greater or less extent. Among
these are the Norway maple, honey
locust apricot, cherry, choke cherry,
rose, ounce, ash, sycamore. butternut
black walnut, hickory, oak, birch, alder
willow poplar. spruce, flr larch and
cypress.
on completing their growth the lar
vac become restless and at times crawl
long distances, before finding a place
20 spin their thin cocoon and to pu-
pate. The cOcoons can be found onI
The bark Of the tree. usually on thel
trunk and lower limbs, on fences, OIL
buildings or anything affording a lltttl
shelter. II
Within a short time after pupatinf
lhe moths emerge. The males appef /
as a prettlly marked grey moth wiz /
prominently tufted front legs. The 2 /
male. however, Is a dull grey, wingles |
creature that seldom leaves the cocoon. |
Her body Is much larger than thatoi
the male and is filled with eggs. ne |
eggs are deposited by the female on /
the outside Of the cocoon, In Septm- !
Der and October, and are covered vth /
a white frothy substance. About Inc I
end OF May the larvae begin to htch
and go Immediately to the leaves IT.