GIPSY-MOTH, a large moth (Porthetria or Ocneria, dispar), of the family Liparidce, is of common occurrence in central and southern Europe and the temperate parts of Asia. Pro fessor Trouvelot imported them for research purposes in 1868 into Medford, Mass. and by accident some specimens escaped; but it was not till 20 years after that its rav ages became a menace by defoliating shade trees ; and it has cost the State upward of $3,000 000 besides the outlays of individuals and municipalities. The sexes of the moth differ greatly, the male expanding only about one and a half to two inches, while the female measures across its expanded wings two and a half inches; the .female is spotted brownish and the male is white, marked with black lines. The former lays her eggs in masses to the num ber of 500 wherever convenient, covering them with hairs and scales from her own body. The females ,have such heavy abdomens that the wings are inadequate for flight, hence the in sect, .owing to the measures which have been employed to prevent its artificial carriage, has not spread far beyond the place where orig inally introduced. The caterpillar measures
when mature about 1.5 inches, is white, with black markings and furnished with long hairs. It is arboreal and capable of being most trouble some on shade, forest and fruit trees, but when abundant it feeds and develops on any form of vegetation. A single generation is produced annually. The best means of combating it are spraying with arsenical mixtures the collection of the cocoons and egg-masses and destroying them; the scraping of loose bark from trees, thus destroying the young and depriving them of hiding places; also the destruction of the eggs by means of oily substances and the trap ping of the larva with strips of burlap placed about the infested trees. Consult The Gipsy Moth,' by Forbush and Fernald (Boston 1896)_; Howard, The Gipsy Moth in America' (De partment of Agriculture, Washington 1898).