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B ulle t in 37 8 r 1 Novembe , 935 5 h cs 3 35

THE EAS TERN T T GAT EN . E

B ”AR1 7 W . E TTO . RI N ”77

QImmentiw t

fi grimltuml fixperimmt fi taiinn

Ne w 716m m" CONNECTICUT AG RICULTURAL E" PERIMENT STATION

' B OARD OF CONTROL

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TH E EAS TERN TENT CATERP ILLAR

Out breaks in New En glan d

Common Name

E n vi de ce of Damage .

Ou t br eaks in Con n ect icu t

Dis t ribu t ion

Food Plan t s

Ha i Hi r b t s an d Life s t o y .

Des crip t ion

Con fus ion Wit h Ot her In s ect s

r s t t n t at r i ar Ma lacos oma diss tr ia Fo e e c e p ll ,

' al orm H ha n tr ia cu n ea F l webw , yp

Ba rm Th r ido ter rz: e heme ra e ormis gwo , y p y p f

Nat ur al En emi es

Con t rol Meas ur es

Des t royin g t he Eggs

m o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Re ovin g t he Nes t s o

Sp rayi n g mm ff Co un it y E ort .

Summar y e a t r illars r st in on t h t sid t he n st . FIGURE 1 . T n t c e p e g e ou e of e ’" THE EAS TERN“ TENT CATERPILLAR

M l m r a acos oma a e ican a Fabr .

E. B TT W . RI ON

OUTBREAKS IN NEW ENG LAND

” UTBREAKS of the east ern t en t cat erpillar in New Englan d have been O recorded in published literature ever since t he earliest records of t In 1 64 6 t h t x n n n Colonial times . At leas e pes was e ceedi gly abu da t , as ‘‘ n r n n r r r e it has been i ce tai other seaso s . Peak pe iods we e te med cat r ” t h re n r pillar years by the settlers. Probably e species is p se t eve y season t hr oughout its ran ge and somewher e appears i n large n u mbers each year . In the New Englan d stat es t he periods of abundan ce occur at more regular

r a n 8 1 2 r . n n intervals, than elsewhe e , v ryi g from to yea s apart In Co ec t icut they come every 1 0 or 1 1 year s and the writer has Observed t he

" u r : 1 02 - 1 03 1 91 3- 1 91 4 insect during fo r of these pe iods , as follows 9 9 , ,

1 92 4 an d 1 935 . Evidently the eastern ten t cat erpillar is held in check chiefly by its n n n u parasites . Whe it is abu da t , the parasites have an ample food s pply n t he r r rt i a d are able t o mu lt iply rapidly . When pa asites each a ce a n x n r t he t n t ma imum poi t , they ove come e t caterpillar , which hen rapidly t hi n fi ve n an n decreases m numbers , so hat Wit four or years o ly occasio al

it s . hi s t n r ex t r n . t . v r t s a E nes may be seen Howe e , p S is eve e mi ated As numbers are depleted , the parasites have less and less food and likewise t e t t t r r r t decrease . Thus when h en ca e pilla becomes sca ce the parasi es are r n n t o n . S o likewise sca ce , givi g the pest a cha ce multiply agai the s n t n t t he n t cycle is repeated . It i a co s a seesaw between te t ca erpillar n a d its parasit es .

COMMON NAME

S everal popular n ames have been applied t o this in sect by writ ers on “ n are : n economic en t omology . S ome of these ames America Lackey ” “ “ n r r r n Worm , America Lackey Cate p illa , Ame ica Lackey Moth , “ “ “ ” “ A - r - r T n r l A pple tree Cate pillar Apple Web Wo m , e t Cate pi lar, mer “ ’ “ - t . T r O T n t r r A ican ent Cate pillar , rchard e Cate pilla and pple ree ” T t r i I Or u t n r en Cate p llar . n der to disting ish his i sect f om the species ur ri n n P fi t he n E n mi occ g o t he aci c Coast , America Association of co o c “ Ent omologist s has voted to adopt t he common n ame of East ern Tent ” r r Cate pilla .

A r i f t i 1 7 7 r r it t an d n ar e d. evi s on o Bull e n , ew en e l g 6 6 Con n ecticut Exp e r imen t S tation B ulletin 37 8

E" IDENCE OF DAMAG E

The conspicuous whi te nests of the eastern tent caterpillar In the forks of branches durin g the month of May S how everybody that the insect r n of n i s present . In o dinary seaso s most the nests are o several species

n e “ of of wild cherry , upo which the cat rpillars feed In years great abun it n f 2 t i dance i ests apple (see Figure ) and o her fru t trees , and becomes an A s o r . n o chard pest lthough not important as several other orchard i sects ,

ur t . Un t it is s elyone of the most no iceable sprayed rees may be defoliated , n In ur e 3 al ho r as show Fig , and t ugh this occurs ea ly m the season and the r t a r A ou . t ees put new leaves , it we kens them app eciably s a rule they n r T are unable to produce fruit buds for the followi g yea . his damage r should be p evented if possible .

d f li at n ar Wat r ur . . A os FIGURE 2 p p le t r ee alm t e o ed , e e b y

The nests on trees in hedgerows an d alon g the roadsides (see Figure 4 ) are always unsight ly an d mar t he beauty of the landscape , even if only l f e al r worth ess trees are in ested . Th owner should remove l wo thless t ak r The of t he rees and t e care of t he ot he s . control tent caterpillar is n ot difficult and there is no good reason for allowin g the pest t o multiply un che cked .

OUTBREAKS INCONNECTICUT

t In t t Al hough the nests ar e seen every spri ng Connec icut, the insec has usually been somewhat less destructive here than in northern New

. f . England . Normall y the wild cherry urnishes the common food supply It Is on ly during the periods of great abundance t hat the nests occur on all kinds of fruit tree s as well as on other kinds of trees n ot commonly infested . The Eas tern Ten t Ca terp illar 67

1 902 x un n t In , the tent caterpillar was e tremely ab da everywhere . n O e grower reported the insect as the most troublesome pest . of hi s peach trees . Black cherry and chokecherry bushes along roadsides and hedge e of rows wer stripped leaves , as were most unsprayed apple and other

. t o of fruit trees According the observations the writer, the outbreak was not local . It occurred throughout the S tate but was somewhat more severe in the northern portion . The three agents employed by the S tation t o collect frui t statistics covered all of Connecticut and reported defoliated trees in nearly every town . The wr iter made simi lar observa t S whe re he tions in par s of the tate had occasion to t ravel . Moreover , of all i orchard nsects , the tent caterpil lar was the one most commonly t o hi ffi t he i Th ’ . Mr . T reported t s o ce by fru t growers e lat e . S . G old ' t n ot n s o for 6 6 believed hat the pest had bee abundant years , or since t 1 the terrible ice s orm of 8 36 .

A f i b r i ars . FIGURE 3. p p le t rees de ol at ed y t en t cat e p ll

1 3 t r t r n r t In 90 the caterpillars and hei nes s we e very ume ous , hough 1 2 r r M . . . t perhaps less so than in 90 . J M Whittlesey of Morris w ote tha r n in but t he had neve seen so ma y nests his neighborhood , tha most of n the caterpillars died before reachi g maturity . For s everal years after

n . A this outbreak , the te ts were not much in evidence few could be n r di d n o r found a ywhe e , but the caterpillars particula damage and little n atte tion was paid t o them . 1 1 1 an d 1 1 2 of u rdi In 9 9 , a number specimens and inq iries rega ng them ar t of t he E in 1 1 3 were received from var ious p s S tate . arly 9 many egg n out t clusters were se t t o the S tation , and when the trees put heir leaves t 1 1 3 “ ” t in May, it was evident hat 9 was a caterpillar year , as more nes s 1 2 ' n t wer e presen t than at any time since 90 . Arou d New Haven hey 6 8 Con n ecticut Exp er imen t S tation B u lle tin 378

r d m r t he were mode ately abun ant , but back a few iles f om , coast , every r an d rr neglected apple tree, every black che ry tree every chokeche y bush on e 1 5 2 0 t had from to or nes s , and many apple trees were stripped, as 2 t n i t t i n r . S s shown Figu e At oni gton , which a coas town , the ca erpillars Lit h fie d x n n t an d . c l were e tremely abu da , many trees were defoliated In County "t he n est s were very numerous and wer e so reported from S al is r r n of R x bury and Norfolk . The writer obse ved them in po ti o s o bury, n o r an d oak Washi gton and W odbu y, in Woodbury saw scrub that had r a r on been st ipped . Occ sional nests we e seen other kinds of trees not

n n . S commo ly i fested Also in Waterbury , Middlebury and outhbury, in an d wi New Haven County , nearly all roadside apple ld cherry trees , as r r well as neglected orchard trees , were stripped . Many cate pilla s died wi and n n b from a lt disease were found stuck arou d on fe ces , uildings, n f sto e wal ls and the trunks o trees .

N s h k hrr u s s . FIGURE 4 . e t s on c o ec e y b he

Prizes for collecting and destroying egg - c lusters were offered to school children by various ci vic an d improvement associations and other Organ iz at ion s i n n Ex n n ma y towns , and the te sion S ervice of the Co necticut t n S ta e College Offered prizes i n a contest coveri g the entire S tate . In

of n . Newtown , prizes were awarded for the collection ests In 1 92 4 the eastern tent caterpillar was again abundant t hroughout the S n t u r . a tate , particularly so in the weste n portio However, his o tbre k di d n ot 1 1 2 5 seem to be quite so severe as that of 91 3. In 9 there were

on r . fewer nests , and the pest was the dec ease T for n ‘ 1 33 hen several year s thi s insect was ot noticeable , but by 9 it attracted attention again . The following season nests were p articularly 35 in Lit chfi e ld s o r r . 1 9 abundant County , and less in the sho e egion In The Eas tern Ten t Caterp illar 69

t he n 1 1 3 probably ests were as numerous as in 9 . Never be fore were so an ui A many mail d telephone inq ries received at the S tation . lthough n t ni i n i forma ion and war ngs were i ssued the newspapers , many person s were n ot impressed unti l their t rees were Covered with tent caterpillar . t S t do nests Then hey thought the ta e ought to something about it . n e Many , ma y apple tre s and wild cherry trees were entirely stripped of n 1 n leaves by Ju e , and o ly the unsightly nests and the bare trun ks an d t branches remained . Nes s an d caterpillars were al so found on trees n The other than t he usual food pla ts . fact that t he wilt di sease was Observed i n some localit ies indicates that the insect will be less preval en t

x . n an ne t season However , there were plenty of cocoo s , da large number

- u r x r of moths emerged . Later , egg cl sters we e e t emely common on the twigs . hi n r D n Contests among school c ldre were ca ried on in a bury, New

i n r . Milford , and many othe places

DISTRIBUTION

The east ern t en t caterpillar is a n ative of Nort h America and occu rs Uni S an d t hroughout the eastern ted tates and Canada , westward to the n D 1 4 . r 6 6 Rocky Mountai s amage has been reco ded since , and out

“ breaks seem to be more severe and occur with great er regularity in the t t r rn En a northeas ern s ates , particularly in no the New gl nd , than in other sections of the Uni ted S tates .

FOOD PLANTS

Certain species of wild cherry ar e the favorit e and probably the natur al n T food plants of the eastern t e t caterpillar . his is particularly t rue of a r run us s e rotin a c run us vi r i n i an a the bl ck cher y , P , choke herry, P g , and l n i ca The a fir r run us cn n s z a . t o bird or e cher y , P p y i pple seems be the r t rr u nex t choice . Howeve , the o her species of che y and pl m , both wild t are x . and cul tivated , fed upon to some e ent, as is also the peach Although t he i s n n u r n r apple commo ly i fested , the fr iting and flowe i g c abs are

an d t he or r . Am somet i mes at tacked , shadbushes se vice berries , e lan chie r " n aden s is r n ot x . r ca , and othe species are e empt Lowe mentioned che ry , r n apple , plum , peach , ose , witch hazel , beech , barberry, oak , willow a d o t r n n . S i poplar as food pla ts me imes the cate pillars feed upo gray b rch , e tula o uli olia an d i of an d h s B p p f , perhaps other spec es birch , the writer a i n s of occasion ally found them eat g the leaves of variou kinds oak . In 1 1 3 Old n i Car in Woodbury in 9 , he observed the ests on r ver beech , p us

rn Os tr a vir in ian a . carolin iana , and on hop ho beam , y g

HABITS AND LIFE HISTORY

The eggs are laid in cylin drical clu sters en circling small twigs of the

rr r n t he n fi t u . S apple and che y, du i g last days of Ju e or rs of J ly pecimens in breeding cages i n the laboratory lai d eggs soon after the mi ddle of

hi IS r ar e . A June , but t s somewhat earlie than they laid out of doors fter r 2 00 n depositin g an average of mo e than eggs in a ba d , the parent moth

Ex t S t at i G va RU". 1 52 a e 2 8 1 1 8 9 8 . Ne w York Agr . p . on ( ene ) , p g , 7 0 Con n ectic ut Exp e r imen t S ta tion Bu lle tin 378

i i a n covers them with a viscid flu d wh ch h rde s , giving them a varn ished t appearance . Probably his coating is a great protection a gainst the 5 2 S e e r an d 1 . weather and predaceous insects . ( Figu es

r The eggs do not hatch until the following April , thus emaining upon The the twi gs for about nine months . tiny caterpill ars first feed upon t he u di t he x t he frothy mass s rroun ng eggs , and ne t attack new leaves A ‘ which are then unfoldin g . fter a few days they spin many silken r t ual i n thr eads to fo m their nes , us ly a fork of the branches . (S e e Figures

7 r . 6 , and f ont page of bulletin ) n t he r r Each est , or colony, contains caterpilla s f om a single clust er of In i n eggs . fair weather the insects feed the morning and again in the r n an d n ai ni bu t r afte noo , , accordi g to Fitch , ag n at ght ; du ing cloudy 1 t n . 35 . . . " weather hey remain in the est In 9 , Mr M P appe of this depar tment examined in fested chokecherry bu shes several times between an d n t n dusk mid igh and always fou d the caterpillars m the nest . When u r ll r n at nearly f ll g own , the caterpi a s may often be fou d rest on the out hr of t n 1 . T t e side the e t , as shown in Figure hey spin eads wherev r they ‘ n n n r n crawl alo g the bra ches from the est to thei feedi g places .

- 5 . E us t r FIGURE gg cl e , h k h rr . FIGURE 6 . Nes t on c o ec e y n at ural s ize .

The - r an d un egg cluste s do not all hatch at the same time , it is not common to fin d hal f- grown an d newly- hatched cat erpillars i n the same

. r t vicinity M . Whi tlesey stated i n a letter to the wri ter that dur ing the 1 02 n 2 1 spring of 9 the hatchi g period exten ded over nearly days .

The a i ix i aver ge feeding period s about s weeks , during wh ch time the in or t m . A caterpillars molt , cast their skins , several i es s they increase r r At size they become mo e voracious and devour the leaves apidl y . t r n n each mol ing period they stop feeding for a few hou s , o ly to begi in t n vi aga wi h re ewed gor . r t he a d t When fully g own , caterpillars cease eating n wander abou t r or t wo . T n hi n es lessly for a day he they spin w te , silke cocoons in the r n t he n f r on uil di g ass u der trees , i the crevices o the ough bark , or b ngs , x n t e e r bo es and rubbish that may be near the i fes ed trees . (S Figu e T r he e is only a single brood each year . The Eas tern Ten t Cate rp illar 7 1

'

7 . N s t s h in oun r FIGURE e ow g y g cat e p illar s .

R 8 . n t at r i ar s ar t ia N r n . a t FIGU E Te c e p ll , p lly g ow ur al s ize . 7 2 Con n ecticut Exp erimen t S tation B ulletin 378

A l of t s r r co o,ny tent ca erpillar was b ought into the labo atory on May The n eS t t the r had been formed, hough caterpilla s were small , measuring

t hr - x t in n an d about ee si eenths of an inch le gth , had probably been hatched n 2 6 about a week . O May they were full grown an d t hr ee or four had

t . In pupa ed a week , all had made their cocoons , and by June the r T n n u l . adu ts began to eme ge his co ti ed for nearly a week , until all had

n r - come forth . Mea time seve al egg clusters had been deposited by the r n females in the b eedi g cage .

DESCRIPTION

E : The r on e - gg eggs are gray in color and ve y small, about eighteenth “ n d a hi . The of an inch l ong, slightly more than half as t ck upper end is r t he r n . T are circula , and is a little la ger tha lower end hey placed on

r on e - x n of an end , close together , and cove ed si tee th inch deep with a

The - brown substance resembling glue . egg c luster usually encircles the

E - t wi g, but is sometimes deposited on one side only . gg clusters are n 1 2 S hown in Figur es 5 a d .

i . t r i ar . t a s FIGURE 9 . Cocoon s of t en t ca e p ll Na ur l ze

a r a : fi t he t r r S an d L v When rst hatched , ca e pillar is ve y mall nearly r r t fi ve or six it n in black , with a few g ay hai s . It mol s times as i creases

S t r S t n . ize , and af e each molt the markings how more dis i ctly When full grown t he caterpillar is from two to two an d o ne—‘ half in ches in length The r an d t n n n r . is hi ly covered with lo g, light brow hai s colo is black w hi n t he an d rt r u r ith a w te stripe alo g back , many sho , i reg lar , b ownish ' The t or n n . s ripes , marki gs , alo g the side of each segment sides are of a blui sh color an d e ach segment bears an oval blue spot nearly surrounded d b The The of d an . by black . undersides the body, hea , legs are lack '

in 8 . larvae , natural size , are shown Figure

Pu a : The t p pupa s age is passed in a white , oval cocoon , which is n about on e inch in length and half an in ch i thi ckness . It is made of n t hr t he r loosely wove , silken eads , spun by cate pillar, and is usually

att ached by one side t o some object in a mor e or less protected place . r n Figu e 9 shows a few of t he cocoo s . The Eas tern Te n t Ca te rp illar 7 3

du l t : The u - w n of A ad lt is a four i ged moth light , reddish brown wi t x i r color, h two whitish stripes e tending obl quely ac oss each forewing .

The al n x n on - fem e has a wi g e pa se of about one and e half, an d the male

on e on e - e The about and eighth , inch s . mal es are inclin ed t o be some t in o wha darker col r than the females , though there is much variation in of n r the intensity the grou d color and of the ma kings in both sex es . The r t he n ear wings are the same color as forewi gs , but are n ot marked wi t h

i t r . x n 1 wh e st ipes Both se es are show in Figure 0.

' h s t rn E M t s t e a 1 1 . M t hs t he for s FIGURE 1 0. - o h of e e FIGUR o of e t

mal v . t n t a r i . a t ar ma . t en t cat erp ill ar . Fe e bo e e c e p ll Fe le above

Na tu ral size . Nat ur al size .

CONFUSION WITH OTHER INSECTS $ w

Al t hou gh t he eastern tent cat erpillar is one of the commonest and mi of ur t t t t most fa liar all inj ious insec s , it is of en confused wi h other pes s , I t he al r . n n particul arly the bagworm and f l webwo m fact , it is freque t ly t b t o di called the bagworm . In order hat the reader may be a le stinguish u n an d n between these insects , ill stratio s brief descriptions are i cluded here .

r a r M a acosoma dis s tr ia H u b n Fo r es t Te n t Ca t e p il l , l .

This in sect is called the forest tent caterpillar because it is closely

n l . n t relat ed t o t he eastern te t caterpi lar However, it makes no es , and r t he n dur ing most of the larval pe iod caterpillars feed independe tly . t on r t When nearly full grown , hey cluster the t unks of rees in much t he same manner as the eastern t en t cat erpillars clust er on the outside of t he h n t n t nest . T e forest te t ca erpillar is ge erally pale blue in color , wi h a r Of - t t i t r t he ow keyhole shaped whi e spo s , ns ead of a st ipe , along back . u r It feeds upon frui t, shade and decid ous fo est trees , and at times has ar " n n defoliated large woodland eas in ermo t , New Hampshire and ort h The r n 1 4 l t ern New York . caterpilla s are show in Figure and the adu s

1 h - r r 1 3 n r in Figure 1 . T e egg cluste , Figu e , has the e ds squa ed Off an d 74 Con n ectic ut Exp er imen t S tation B ulle tin 378

less pointed than that of the eastern tent caterpillar , shown in Figure 1 2 . The n of moths, also , are somewhat paler tha those the eastern ten t cater i n of di n on pillar , and have dark , stead white , agonal marki gs the forewings .

‘ 1 3 E - u s t r Of fQ I GS t t n t 1 2 E - rn t n t FIGURE gg cl e e G . u s t r of as t FI URE gg cl e e e e . i cat erp ll ar . Nat ural 8 1 2 6 . at r N s i . c e p illar . at ur al ze

i ar s . at a S i . 1 4 . r s t t n t at r N ur FIGURE . Fo e e c e p ll l ze

Fa l e w o r m H ha n tr ia cun ea r u r . l . W b , yp D y

Many person s confuse the fall webworm with the eas tern t en t cater r t he f t h r re t t r n pilla . But nests o e fo mer a presen in la e summe and autum an d t he t the on the ends of branches , . ca erpillars feed inside ; whereas "

‘ t he t t t he an d r n nests of la er are formed in May in forks of trunk b a ches , and t he caterpillars go ou t t o feed .

7 6 Con n ecticut Exp er imen t S tation B ulle tin 378

ff of This insect feeds upon man y di erent kinds trees . It was found on 1 934 1 3 Norway maple in Bridgeport in and in New Haven in 9 5 . It seems to be particul arly fond Of ar borvitae and red cedar and is often r shipped into Connecticut on young nurse y trees .

NATURAL ENEMIES

The eastern t ent c aterpillar is usually held in check by its natural m ul r l ene ies , and without them wo d doubtless be more p eva ent and “ xt destructive each season . Its e reme abundance in caterpillar years r of d uht e dl t o r . is un o y due a compa ative sca city these foes , thus allowing the speci es t o multiply almost unche cked . Among its natural enemies are parasitic and predaceous insects , a bacterial disease and certain species Of birds . _

The a rm. FIGURE 1 8 . b gwo

Nat ur al s ize .

" r t ar e t ai Probably the most impo tan the insec parasites . Q u ntance n Te len omus clis iocam ae R Pte ro s mentio ed three egg parasites , p iley, malu

t r - . P s la as te s . f p and yg p , that have been recorded from the egg clusters o t h t Ye t an d e eas ern tent caterpill ar . it is in the caterpillar cocoon stages

t . ur hir r" hat the highest parasitism occ s , and in New Hamps e ,

“ r 2 4 of - co ded species four winged flies reared from the tent caterpillar . The followin g 1 2 of these were primary paras ites :

Hyp os oter (Ame loctonus ) clis iocamp a e Weed Hyp os oter (Limn e r ia) fugitiva s S ay La brorychus (A n omalon ) an a lis S ay Ep hialtes (P imp la) conqu is itor S ay

“

P ara nom lon A lo c b P l T . a ( noma n ) ex ile Provan che r S am us ( imp a) inqu is itor ie llus D . Ap a n te les clis iocamp ae As hmead Ep hia ltes (Pimp la) p eda lis Cr ess on M icrobracon (Brac on ) ge lechiae Ashmead Rhogas in te rmedius Cr ess on Psychop hagus (Diglochis ) omn ivoras Walker S p ilocryp tus e xtrematis Cr ess on

akB ure au of En t omol o ir ar a 5 0 C cul 98 . p ge , 1 9 8 . m A Ne w Ha shire t S t at i h Bu" 6 a e 1 03. p gr . . on, Te c . . , p g 2 , 9 The Eas te rn Ten t Cate rp illar 7 7

Fiske e stimated that between 1 5 an d 2 0per cen t of the ten t caterpillar

“ " n n larvae a d pupae are dest royed each seaso by these parasites . Lowe , Y m l i tor a e l n S it i a con u s i S . da is r in New ork , reared P p q y, P p C esso , p ocr tus xtrema tis r n an d Theron i a u lves cen s yp e C esso , also f Cresson , and n n h t n us s . a d t t Mesos e p , from the cocoons , co cluded hat e degree of para m 0 1 1 3 r n it i ab 8 . s s was out per cent In 9 , a la ge umber of specimens of

S cambus coe le bs (Wal sh) were reared from t hi s insect in Con necticut . Other S pecies that have been recorded as parasites are Ep hia ltes aequa lis rovan che r Theron ia me lan oce ha la an d A an t les ru ocoxa lis (P ) , p Brulle p e f A T n Fron tin re i r r R . a n ch i iley achi id fly , f Williston , has also been ea ed r from the eastern tent caterpilla . he ni n an d E hia ltes T Ichneumo d parasites are common in Con ecticut , p ' 1 n n Of con u is itor S a i n 9 o e t he c . q y, shown _ Figure , has been of ommo est

' 354 c olle c t e d in S n n 1 1 3 1 4 0 r c n cocoons to i gton in 9 , p odu ed Ich eumon 7 Tachin id t he r 2 T w flies , flies , and moths emerged f om 07 . his sho s a

4 1 5 e r n . parasitism of . p ce t S t he everal predaceous insects , including larger ground beetles of the a los oma Podis us genus C , and soldier bugs of the genus , as well as two er illas c la udus S a Di lodus lur idus S t a" other sucking bugs , P y, and p , have n r n bee ecorded as feedi g upon the caterpillars .

E h ltes 1 9 . A ar as it ia FIGURE p e , p (P imp la ) con qu is itor; Nat ur al size .

r i r s r al n t In ce ta n moist seasons when the cate pillar are p ev e , many of “ them are killed by a bacterial disease or wilt The caterpillars ar e an d an d n an d n or on t he sluggish flabby, die on trees , buildi gs fe ces ,

n in r nk n n . outside of the nests , where they remai a sh u en co ditio Bir ds are always important natural factors i n the redu ction of in sect u e at pests , but the n mber of species of birds that large; hairy caterpillars

t . r n t o n is rather limi ed Howeve , the following are know feed upon te t caterpillars to some ex t en t :

black- billed cu ckoo ros e- br eas t ed gros beak yellow- bill ed cu ckoo black an d whi t e warbler cat bird golden - win ged warbler crow yellow war bler Chi ckadee r eds t art blu e "ay chip p ing sp arrow robin fi eld sp ar row brown t hrasher whit e - t hr oat ed sp arrow Balt imore oriole re d—eyed vi reo r e d- win ged blackbird yellow- t hroat ed vir eo cedar wax win g hou s e wr en

‘ It is said that a cold rain just after the eggs hatch kills man y of the

n n . you g caterpillars . Also , many caterpillars die from starvatio

Ne A a Bul 1 52 a 2 0 1 8 8 . w Y rk . E t S t at i G v . 9 9 o gr xp . on ( ene ) , p g e , Con n ecticut Exp er imen t S tation Bulle tin 378

CONTROL MEASURES

De s t r o yi n g t h e Eg g s

m be r Dur ing t he winter uch can . done to reduce the tent caterpilla

- . n are popul ation by destroyi ng the egg clusters Whe the trees bare , f these can be seen near the ends o the twigs , and may easily be clipped n n s e e Off and burned . By mea s of a tree pru er with a long handle , ( Fig

r r n r FIGURE 2 0. T ee p u e

i t o ure the Operator, while stand ng upon the ground, is able remove T the clusters that would otherwise be beyond hi s reach . hese should e an d then be gather d burned .

Re m o vi n g t h e Ne s t s

Br u s h i n g : Many years ago the writer used to be sent through t he orchards an d along the roadsides an d hedgerows with a brush mounted on t he n r T end of a pole to remove the ests f om the trees . his work was r n done in the early mo ni g or on a cloudy .day when the caterpillars were t n Th r ff i in heir t e ts . e b ush was made of sti bristles twisted n heavy an d t r n wire immed to the shape of a cone about six inches lo g . It was n e r o a d . T made for the purpose , worked admirably h ope ator sto d upon u t he ur n the gro nd, inserted the point of the brush in nest , gave it a few t s , n T and the e tire nest with contents was wound upon the brush . hen r n n the caterpilla s were easily dest royed by crushi g u der foot .

E 2 1 A at r i ar r sh . FIGUR . c e p ll b u

During recen t years t he writer has n ot been able to fin d this brush on

the market , but this year, a Hartford brush manufacturer has made some samples aft er specifi cations furni shed and will probably manufacture r Th n t he it in the futu e if there proves t o be a demand . e appeara ce Of 2 1 brush is shown in Figure . The Eas tern Te n t Cate rp illar 7 9

n ot ix 2 In case a caterpillar brush is at hand , four or s nails , to 3inches of f t long, driven through the end a pole , half o hem at right angles to the others and with both ends projecting equally , will serve as a sub i st t ut e .

B u r n i n g . S ome frui t growers practice burni n g the nests on the trees and for t his pur pose an asbestos torch has been designed and manu The l S fi or fac t ur e d. an d torch lled covered with kerosene , lighted, held r n t r m unde the est when the ca erpillars are inside . We do not eco mend r i n u i s of re bu n g beca se there danger seve injury to the tree . Where the ar e r nests nea the ends of the branches , the damage may be very slight , but i ' a f they are in the forks of comparatively large branches , s is frequently u f n the case , they cannot be b rned without danger o killing or injuri g / these branches . Removing the nests with a caterpillar brush is just as di an d x t he . e pe tious as burning, there is no damage to trees

ar di c n Where the orch st pra tices early sprayi g , no other remedy need

. n ul u be considered Lead arsenate with or without nicoti e , lime s f r or ux x t t h r Bordea mi ure , applied to the foliage , will kill e cate pillars when n h The hi t hey feed upo t e leaves . c ef di fficulty lies in the fact that some of t he caterpillars hatch an d begin feedi ng as soon as the first leaves h appear and before t ere is any leaf surface to poison . Consequently n r n some damage may be do e before sp aying begi s . But , as the cater

“

t t . pillars eat very li le when small , this damage is not liable to be serious The ar l r r e ly colonies of caterpil ars may easily be b ushed from the t ees , r and the sp ay depended on to kill the lat er ones . Three poun ds of powdered lead arsen ate should be used in each 1 00 mi x gallons of spray ture . 2 — n A A 2 0 1 9 5 , a lime ul , t Wilton , pril , where h s fur spray had bee applied F n ' n the you g caterpillars were killed soon after hatchi g .

Co m m u n i t y Effo r t

Through Cooperative effort an y in sect pest c an be checked . It is usually the careless man who br eeds destructive insects for his neighbor E c r n n n t ul e r hood . a h p operty ow er and te a sho d take car of such matte s “ r on the land which he owns or contr ols . In some Eu opean countries the own er is compelled t o remove all dest ru ctive pests from hi s trees an d shrubs, and S imi lar laws are in force in Maine , Massachusetts and New

n - r Hampshir e regardi ng the gypsy and brow tail moths. If the land holde t o do hi S hi m an d in fails t s , the tate or town does it for he pays the cost the form of . taxes . S ome writers advise t he destruction of all wild cherry an d of seedling and worthless apple t rees which harbor the tent cat erpillar i n the hedge

n - rows an d along t he roadsi des . If the owner is not willi g to destroy such of t an d trees , he certainly should keep them reasonably free insect pes s not allow them to be a menace t o n eighboring orchards .

r . Many years ago Professo C . M Weed recommended that children be

t - c given a small boun ty for ga hering egg lusters , and cited a case in New fi r t f elds , N . H . whe e the local village improvemen society O fered the 8 0 Con n ecticut Exp e r imen t S tation B ulle tin 37 8

2 0 - t r . A 8 5 children ten cents per hund ed clusters s a result , , egg clus ers n n 1 50 h were collected , and if each cluster co tai ed eggs , w ich is a small

1 500 of $8 . 2 5 . average , eggs were destroyed at a cost Many S imi lar contests have been conducted in Connecticut for the bo i y scouts , girl scouts and school ch ldren , usually sponsored by a local of i organization , such as the board education , garden club , c vic associa tion or village improvement association . of hi t in 1 91 3 Because of t he prevalence t s insec in Connecticut , the Ex tension S ervice of the Con n ecticut S tate College at S torrs arranged a contest for school childr en 1 n collecting egg - clusters before April t he nu A prize of $2 5 was awarded the child collecting largest mber, and hi t he of u $2 5 a scholars p in summer school the college , val ed at , was awarded t he teacher whose school collect ed t he largest nu mber . A certificate of appreciat ion was given to the child making the highest n score in each tow .

’ I G 2 2 i F URE . Sacks fil led wit h a day s collect on of n es ts r eadyt o be

N o n . bur n ed . ewt w

S u r Al l pervisors we e appointed t o take charge of the mat t er . egg clust ers were brought to the teacher, who credited each pupil With the mb In t nu er collected , and then destroyed them . addition to hese prizes , i n many individuals , schools , granges, village improvement assoc atio s

t he r for - t and like , offe ed prizes the largest number of egg c1us ers collected of t locally . All hese agencies workin g together indu ced the childr en to

an r n r of - t n gather eno mous umbe egg clusters , amoun i g to more than r t he E acco ding to records of the x tension S ervice .

t t o - on e f r Besides the inducemen collect egg clusters , o the Hartfo d daily newspapers offered prizes in three series for t he best essays by school children on di fferent phases of the life hist ory of the tent caterpillar

Divi s i of E t m l U. S . D t A . ri u t ur Bul . 1 7 n e w s ri s a 7 7 1 8 9 8 . on n o o ogy , ep g c l e , e e , p ge , The Eas te rn Te n t Ca te rp illa r 8 1

u it or r x r and damage ca sed by , on thei e pe iences in competing for t he The a u on e t t . s prizes writer served j dge in of hese li erary contests . The best essays and port rait s of t he winn in g authors were afterward published n r in the ewspape . A somewhat differen t form of con test was car ried on by t he Ne wt own

“ 1 The r n r 5 f r t High S chool m 1 9 3. p i cipal offe ed $o he largest n umber of n t t 3 for n an d 1 for t he t r $ $ t . es s collec ed , the seco d , hi d highes He ’

n t an d urn t he n t rn n . On e cou ed , weighed b ed es s each mo i g day s c olle c 2 2 t t r 1 6 4 n t n n in ur . 8 6 t io is show Fig e Al oge he , es s , weighin g abou t t t t r n r u r r a d t . po nds , we e b ough oge he des oyed

'

1 935 n . r n u t in l for t h Again in , campaig s we e co d c ed many ocalities e

- rl destruction of egg clu st ers . Nea y half a million were gat hered in the

‘ t n D n an d r vicini y of each of the tow s of a bury New Milfo d . S uch efforts wit h t heir at tendan t publicit y are beneficial becau se they t t he t t n t n t an d rt r serve to attrac a e io of all ci izens prope y owne s , as well r t o u t t n t r t o as school child en, the s bjec of pes co ol , and help edu cate the I people regardin g t he life hist ory of t he pest . t wou ld seem also t hat t u u t t n t t n n hey wo ld res l m a subs a ial local reduc io of a give pest , alt hough t on e ou n t r it may be doub ed if c ld o ice any marked dec ease . However , it may fai rly be assumed t hat t he school children were ben efi t ed t hrough r r f rt t r rt t hei o ganized e fo s owa d a wo hy objective , and m the train ing of t heir powers of observation an d in creased in t erest in t he organ isms of nature .

S UM M ARY

The east ern t en t cat erpillar is a n at ive American in sect t hat feeds upon t he foliage of wild cherry an d apple an d forms n ests in - t he forks of t he 1 1 1 r i x branches in May . Every 0 or yea s t is e ceedin gly abun dan t in

n t u t an d t t r n 1 n r rd . At u t t he Con ec ic defolia es ees , eve _ o cha s s ch imes n u u r alon t he d an d t r est s are conspic o s eve ywhere g roa sides , the ees are

r t . are u t ou t r l n t he n st ipped of heir leaves New leaves p late seaso , bu t t he trees are gr eat ly weaken ed . t r ak rr in n n t t in 1 902 1 91 3 1 2 4 an d 1 Ou b e s have occu ed Co ec icu , , 9 935 . The n t t r u t t he t rn Un t S t t an d d an i sec occurs h ougho eas e i ed a es Cana a , d Th u u n westward to t he Rocky Mou n t ain s . e s al food pla t s are W ild bu t n r n t t he t r r u cherry and apple , whe p evale ca e pilla s may feed pon

n r t r r t - r rr other ki ds of f ui t ees , ose , wi ch hazel , beech , ba be y , oak , willow ,

an d t r t r an d ru . poplar , birch o he ees sh bs

a in un an d u on t he t t he n t The eggs are l id J e J ly small wigs of food pla ,

h t r r r - an d hat ch t he followin g April . T e ca e pilla s f om each egg clust er r in t he n t an d ou t it t o bu t are u in live t oget he same es , go of feed , us ally T t he n est durin g t he n ight an d in st ormy weat her . hey molt several u r n in u t six an d n t n t imes , become f ll g ow abo weeks spi whi e , silke cocoons from which t he adu lt mot hs emerge t wo weeks lat er . There is only on e a nn ual gen erat ion .

r in u t r 2 00or n r n The small , g ay eggs are deposited cl s e s of more e ci cli g — n Th an d r t r n u u t . t ur t he twigs , cove ed wi h a b ow ish , gl e like s bs a ce e ma e t wo or r in n t an d cat erpillar is inches mo e le g h , blackish above below ,

an d t ri n t he . It IS t n blue alon g t he sides , has a whi e st pe alo g back hi ly r The t n u t an n n covered wit h light brown hai s . whi e cocoo is abo i ch lo g 8 2 Con n e ctic ut Exp e r ime n t S tation B u lle tin 37 8

The l t an d half as thick . adu t is a reddish brown mo h with two whitish n r r stripes ex tendi g obliquely ac oss each fo ewing . The female has a

u t on e an d on e - an d t he m u wingspread of abo half, ale abo t one and one

t n . eigh h , i ches S everal other in sects of different habits an d life hist ories are oft en t t n t t r n are con fu sed wi h the e ca e pillar, chief amo g which the bagworm n t he r t n t r r fall webworm a d fo es te t ca e pilla . The t rn n t t r in n ur it s t u eas e te ca erpilla at e is checked by na ral enemies , n t r an d r r t r a an chiefly by i sec pa asites p edato s , a bac e i l wilt disease , d by birds . Cont rol measures con sist of : removin g an d burning t he egg - clusters ; removin g t he n est s and destroyin g the cat erpillars by crushing or burn n n n t he n t t he r k r r i g ; bur i g es s on t ees , which may ill or inju e the b anches ; r n spraying wit h lead a se at e . In man y communit ies con test s have been con ducted for the destru o

- u t r an d n t an d r f e n t ion of egg cl s e s es s , p izes o fer d and awarded to boy a d n n girl scout s a d school children collecti g the highest nu mber . Propert y own ers should re move all worthless trees an d shrubs an d keep all ot hers n t he t r t n t r r free from t he ests of eas e n e cate pilla .

REFERENCES TO LITERATURE

B The A - r n - r i ar . E. t at it t on w. r , p p le T ee Te C e p ll

E . . 2 0 . . . 1 A . x t S t a 1 3 B l . 1 7 7 n n r 9 u , Co g p , p p ,

T A n at r il ar . P . he t t E . Fel , p p le Te C e p l

- Y. E i . 1 1 1 . N . S m o 7 h R t . t at n t t 7 0 8 8 Four t een t p e o ol g s , p p 9 , 9

A St u of t he Par asit s of t he Amer an n t at r i ar . i sk . . F e , W F dy e ic Te C e p ll

H . A r. E t . S t a . 5 0 B . . N . h . No 6 x Tec u" , g p ,

i Or h I s . H . s t ru t v ar n s t Lo " . we , Two De c e c d ec

- Y . . . 2 2 . . E . 2 . A r t S t a G n va 7 1 8 8 . . 1 N x Bul No 5 , g p , ( e e ) , p p 9 99 , 9

- - Th A r n i . u ain t an A . L. e t at r llar Q ce , p p le T ee Te C e p

0 . f En . . . t . A . 8 . 1 8 B . o S r ir . No . 8 ur t U 9 C c 9 , , Dep g , p p ,

- Th r i r . . M . e n t at a Weed , C Te C e p ll

1 8 6 . H . . 38 . A r . E . S t a . 1 4 E . N x t U" , g p , p p , 9