Durfee Plant House, Interior View. each "apartment" inscribed with the name of the occupant, if known, where found and when, and the food which it requires. A magnificent green Emperor is feeding with a larva's excellent appetite upon a bunch of white pine. Hanging, head downward, like a sloth in a South American forest, he grasps the slender green "needle" and eats steadily down to the stalk. Beside him, showing softly pink on the brown soil, rests an Alaria florida, looking like two detached petals from the evening primrose where she would feed and nestle if free. Nearly a year ago, according to the label on the tumbler, she was in the ground, a dull, brown thing, which responded to the touch only by a slight, uneasy movement. Now a vision of delicate wings, plumed body, large eyes, and curious curling proboscis she awaits euthanasia.       The large cage in the corner, a square wooden frame with sides of wire gauze, has been occupied for some weeks by the crawling, writhing larvæ of the gypsy moth. Only yesterday, the imago— the perfect insect, since wings denote perfection here no less than in man, according to theology—emerged in such numbers as to keep every one busy with chloroform and pins. As for spreading their wings, that is out of the question until the rush is over.       The gypsy moth has occupied a prominent place in the entomological discussions of Massachusetts for several years. In June, 1889, specimens were received at the station from the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, with a request for information about them. They came from Medford. In the absence of Prof. Fernald, his wife identified the insect as the Ocneria dispar (Linn.) of Europe. Nearly twenty years before, a cluster of tiny eggs had blown out of M. Trouvelot's window and, like the dust on the palm of Moses, lifted and whirled, had brought forth a plague. Over an ellipse one and one half miles long and one half mile wide, the moth had already eaten its way, attacking orchard, garden, and forest with impartial voracity. The entomologist -- page 67 -- | Previous Page | Next Page | | Town of Amherst Page | Hampshire County | Western MA History & Genealogy | These pages are © Laurel O'Donnell, 2005, all rights reserved Copying these pages without written permission for the purpose of republishing in print or electronic format is strictly forbidden This page was last updated on 12 Sep 2005