Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-13
GYPSY moth
CONTEST ENDS
Prize Essay is Given as Writ
ten by Perth Amboy
Student


me gypsy moth, conducted by ma
tlOnaI state and city onIciaIs, the
school children from Grade SB 10
Grade SA were asked to write COM
positions on some phase OF the
slpsy moth, its lie ana its habits.
me writing of these compositions
was not made compulsory and a Iew
OF the classes neglected to write
tdese compositions. However, the
majority % inc teachers ~InS.rdcteu
ineir pupils on the habits and Gus
toms OF the gypsy moths n told
their charges where additional IN
formation could be found. After a
week of preparation, the pupils
wrote the compositions which were
then turned over to Miss Malais OF
the high school and Paul steele,
principal of the grammar school.
Not being satisfied to let the mat
ter rest there, Mr.. Steele organized
several contests among the boys to
see who could bring in the most
gypsy moth cocoons. The number
of o that was brought in was
so large, though zone were those
of the gypsy moth. that Principal
steele had to call off the contest.
In the awarding of the prizes, the
judges governed themselves accord
ing to the following points: neat
ness, material n of presenta-
ton and they also considered very
carefully the quality of the essay
according to the grade it repre-
scented.
First prize was awarded to Vim
cent Hozeny, Room 3, grade IA, in
the grammar school. second prize
was awarded to Gerald Kaplowitz,
grade ga. Room 20, of the gram
mar school. Third honors went to
a little tot. Max Jaffe, grade 3B,
whose teacher is Miss Rose Cold
stein, of No. 2 school.
These winners were selected from
the winners of each grade. The lat
ter list is as follows:
Eight A, Gerald Kaplowitz,
Room %, grammar school; SB.
Genevieve Hatchman, Room rs,
grammar school; Ia Vincent Ho-
zeny, Room 8, grammar school, 7B,
Tessie ellis, Room IL, grammar
school; GA, Pearl Wedeen, Portable
2. grammar school: 6B Mollie Lie
per, Room 8, school No. 4; ga,
Frank Cello. Room II. School No.
4; 5B. tie between Mike Moskin and
Bertha Yukas. Room IL, School No.
Il; "A, Bonnie Sabat. Room 5,
yshool No. 3, teacher, Miss Deegan;
-, William Mccoy. Room s.: ga
Mary Frank, school No. 2, teacher,
Miss A. Doyle: 3B. Max Jaffe,
school No. 2, teacher, Miss Rose
Goldstein.
In many cases. the judges were
hard put to decide between several
compositions for the honor of being
the hest in their grade.
The composition which was
awarded first prize follows:
The gypsy moth Is abundant
throughout the temperate regions.
II mas long been a native of Central
Europe. 1t received its name from
Its olive brown color, resembling
somewhat that of a gypsy.
In 1868 a French scientist named
Leopold Trowvelot, came to the
United States. He went to Medford,
massachusetts,, where he expert
on various specimens OF
american and European silkworms,
trying to find n that was immune
from disease. Among his speci-
mems were some gypsy moths, sew
eral OF which soon escaped. The
scientist called the attention of the
public authorities to the fact, but
the matter was not taken up.
"Tweny years later the
OF this insect became so severe in
Massachusetts, that the state was
called upon by property owners to
do away with the pest. For ten
years the work of exterminating. the
moths was carefully carried on. BY
that time the moth had become
The male moth Is colored olive
scarce and the work was abandoned.
brown with dark markings on. his
wings. The female moth is of a
light bun color and unlike the male
Is unable to fly, because of its
weight. The eggs are laid in July
n August on tree trunks, rocks,
and fences. These minute eggs de-
velop through the winter. From
the last of April to the middle of
June, they hatch into small cater
pillars, the caterpillars when young
eats small leaves and when full
grown attacks oak, elm, and gray
birch trees especially. There are.
at this stage, four blue dots on the
back of the caterpillar's head, a
double row of red warts on its
back, and four blue dots on the end
OF ITS BODY When the caterpillar
Is full grown it spins a loose web
around itself. This is called the
papa stage. The moth emerges in
about a week or ten days.
One way Of spreading this pest
Is the wind blowing the tiny cater
pillars to great distances. The moth
often lays its eggs on lumber piles.
When this is shipped away il aids
In the spreading of the eggs. Vehi-
cles often carry moths and cater
pillars, from ar infested area to
other districts.
The United States government
has imported from Japan and Hun
gary. parasite flies to fight the gipsy
moth. These flies lay their eggs on
the gypsy moths eggs and subse-
quently kill them by feeding on the
moths eggs. Another way has been
the importing of the colosoma
beetle, the enemy Of the gypsy moth
larvae. We may help the govern
ment to save out trees by burning
the eggs in winter and by burning
the cocoon in early summer. Egg
masses may be killed by painting or
spraying trees with c~reosote. Wrap
ping a piece of burlap around the
trunk Of a tree is very effective as a
trap for the caterpillars, which feed
at night and tend to hide during
the day. They will hide in the ur-
lap which may then be removed and
destroyed"