Jan., '07] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IJ 



Notes on Certain Cranberry-Bog Insects. 



By H. J. FRANKLIN, B. S., Massachusetts Agricultural College, 



Amherst, Mass. 



During a five months' stay in the Cape Cod Cranberry region, 

 from May ist to the last days in September of the present year, 

 J was engaged in studying the insects generally considered as 

 being economically important in the cranberry industry. As 

 was natural, I made a considerable number of observations 

 on other species and a portion of these are presented in the 

 following notes. 



The larvae of the Geometer Cymatophora sulpliurca (Pack- 

 ard) were found in considerable numbers on several cranberry 

 bogs located in the towns of Carver, Wareham and Falmouth 

 early in June. They were so abundant and their manner of 

 feeding was such that they had a marked effect on the crop 

 of berries harvested on one bog. Before the bud at the tip of 

 the upright shoots had been developed to form the new growth, 

 these larvae began their feeding, and the bud at this time being 

 the most tender part of the plant it was the portion chosen 

 almost exclusively by the caterpillar for its food. On the bog 

 where these larvae were found in greatest abundance the win- 

 ter flowage was held late in the spring and the buds had not 

 yet developed into the new growth to any considerable extent 

 even early in June. The caterpillars were at this time feeding 

 voraciously on these buds. Often the entire bud was devoured, 

 but as a rule, only the central portion was eaten out, leaving 

 an outside shell. The larva and pupa of this species have not 

 heretofore been described. 



Full-grown lari'a. Length, 18 to 20 mm. General color light green. 

 Head normally rounded; lighter in color than the l><>dy and not as 

 distinctly green; without mottlings or markings, with the exception of a 

 narrow cream-colored stripe on each side extending horizontally from 

 the hase of the mandible to the hinder margin, where it merges into 

 the lateral body stripe. I'ody somewhat larger toward the posterior 

 end; finely striped the entire length, both above and below, with longi- 

 tudinal whitish lines, those on the dorsuin being much more distinct 

 than those on the venter. Sides of body with a narrow cream-colored 

 stripe running the entire length, just In-low the spiracles, from the 



