554 



either brood. Two or perhaps three apphcations for the first brood are 

 necessary, but for the second brood lead arsenate may probably prove 

 more suitable, as it is less injurious to tender fohage. 



Mineolu vaccinii, Riley (cranberry fruit worm) was less prevalent 

 in 1916 than in any season since 1903. This moth is not usually very 

 troublesome except in regions with comparatively cold and dry climates. 

 The eggs are parasitised by the Chalcidid, Trichogramma minutum, and 

 the larvae by the Braconid, Phanerotoyyia JranMini, and by Pristomeridia 

 agilis, parasitised cocoons being usually much smaller and more dehcate 

 than the normal ones. The results of submergence tests conducted 

 with fruit worms in their cocoons showed that the effects depend 

 largely upon the temperature of the water, and it is suggested that a 

 flooding after picking, if begun before 1st October and continued for 

 12 or possibly even 10 days, might control this pest as well as late 

 holding of the winter flood usually does. Such flooding practised 

 annually after picking would probably also have a much less harmful 

 effect on the bog. 



A destructive outbreak of Laphygma frugiperda, S. & A. (fall army 

 worm), on widely separated cranberry bogs in New Jersey occurred 

 in 1916, following closely, and evidently caused by, the removal of 

 winter-flowage in mid- July. This moth, which feeds on a variety 

 of plants, has not hitherto been known as a cranberry pest, and as 

 its frequent outbreaks, which start in the southern States, sometimes 

 reach as far north as Canada, there is reason to fear that the mid- 

 summer removal of winter-flowage may more or less regularly invite 

 serious trouble from this pest on Cape Cod, as well as in New Jersey. 



ViNAL (S. C). The European Corn Borer, Pyrausta nuhilalis, Hubner, 

 a Recently Established Pest in Massachusetts. — Mass. Agric. Expt. 

 Sta., Atnherst, Bull. no. 178, December 1917, pp. 147-152. 

 [Received 17th October 1918.] 



Pyrausta nubilalis (European corn borer) although introduced into 

 Massachusetts only about 8 years ago, now infests a district about 

 100 square miles in extent. At present sweet maize is the only 

 valuable commercial crop seriously attacked, the other food-plants, 

 i.e., hops, hemp and millet, not being grown in the infested region. 

 The most commonly infested weeds and grasses are barnyard grass 

 {Echinochloa crusgalli), pig weed {Amarantus retrojiexus) and foxtail 

 grass {Setaria glauca) ; dahha stems are also injured. 



Since all the transformations take place within the plant, there is 

 no hope of destroying the pest by the use of insecticides during summer, 

 and measures must be directed against the hibernating insects. This 

 may be effected by burning the stalks, which, however, is a wasteful 

 method as they are valuable both as fodder and as green manure. 

 Burying them, provided that they are cut into small pieces with a 

 disc harrow and then deeply ploughed in, is effective if done thoroughly. 

 The best means from an economic point of view is that of using the 

 stalks for fodder, but they must be shredded when used either green 

 or dry. Ensilage by ordinary methods must be a highly effective 

 method of destroying the insects, since it seems very improbable 

 that they could survive the conditions existing in a silo. 



