Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-09
PUTNAM

Vast hordeS of SchediuS, fly parasites that feed on the larvae of the gypsy moth are to be released in Thompson Monday next by employees of the state chronological department operating un- [ der the directio1 of John Ashworth of Danielsoh, who is in charge of opera l tions in this corner of the state. MT. l Ashwortf said Thursday that from five | to six millions of the parasites will be l liberated in Thompson and that it is hoped to obtain other ailotments from
 the government laboratories at Melrose
 Highlands, Mass. for use in the towns of
 Putnam and Killingly.
 The parasites that are to be brought | into this territory in millions have been | successfully used ln Massachusetts, in
 combating the spread of the gypsy
 moths. and it is estimated that the have been the means of eradicating up
 to so per cent of the moths in territories
 where they have been turned loose.
 Thompson is the worst infested town in this corner of Connecticut so the para sites will have their first chance to work here. The Schedius do not travel any great distance after being released and
 do their best work where the larvae of
 the gypsy moths are most numerous.
 The feed upon the egg clusters of the
 moths, these clusters found clinging to |
 such places and thus reduce the moth pro-
 pagation.
 Excellent work has been done for the
 past year in this section of Windhan | county by chronological crews, familiarly
 known as bug men" holding in check
 the spread of the gypsy moth pest.
 Scouting, which is now being undertaken
 again is carried on through the fall anc
 winter months and consists of hunting foot by foot, through every part of g , | infested town in d.. effort to locate egs clusters. Every cluster found is giver eradication treatment and it's loca tio1
 marked. During the spring and summe l seasons the crews devote their time chief ly to spraying infested areas. Arsenal of lead is used in the spraying opera : tions which are carried out with moder1 ] apparatus mounted on motor drivel trucks. In Thompson during the ras 2 spraying season 2,301 pounds of arsenal of lead were used in the mixtures ap piled, while 9S1 pounds were used in Xii lingly, SPA pounds in Putnam and 50
 pounds in Wiidstock
 y The buff men have had their work c1l t out fon them this year. Dufng tll t breeding season of the gypsy moth. y which is in the latter part of April an e early May, the prevailing winds we- = from the north and northeast As a re f suit of these winds, which continued fo
 about IT days, Connecticut suffered fror : what the bug men know as wind spread , which means that the moths were car f ried and the wings of the wind from sec . | tionS of Massachusetts and New HamI s shire into Connecticut. Towns in thi . state never before infested have bee = found to contain gypsy moths, some bc
 ing found in towns as far away from tn |. Massachusetts border 3 ~ Somers. Mansfield and Stafford are othe . :. towns now infested. The wind sprea - this year is described as having bee
 the worst since 1915.
 Connecticut has made s30, 900 avaf : able for fighting the spread of the pc: . this year. This corner of the state :. the real battle ground against the gyps . moths and has been for years. The bu
 crews devote special attention to all tf
 towns in this corner of the state and { .. the Rhode Island border line town which include Thompson, Putnam, Xxi lingly Sterling, Voluntown, Preston an ;4 Stonington.
 ,e So many pupils fiocked to Israel Pu , nam school with the opening of the pre- I ent term that the primary grades al a overcrowded, it was stated Thursday n a school official, and unless provsio