263 



is 14 days. The fruit usually falls shortly before the larva is mature, 

 but in some cases may remain on the plant until after the larva has 

 entered the soil to pupate. The first puparia were observed on 21st 

 August in 1914. Hibernation takes place in the pupal stage just below 

 the surface of the soil. R. fomonella occurs throughout the State as a 

 pest of apple. Individuals bred from apple are larger than those 

 attacking blueberries and efforts to induce them to oviposit in blue- 

 berries have always met with negative results. The Braconid, 

 Biosteres rhagoletis, Kichm., has been reared from puparia of R. j^omo- 

 nella. In the field this parasite probably passes the winter within 

 the puparium of the host, and emerges late in the summer. In cases 

 of serious infestation by R. pomonella, from 8 to 10 per cent, of the 

 fruit may be injured. The most effective methods of control include the 

 burning over of the plains every three years and the collection of larvae 

 when the berries are winnowed in the field. Drosophila ampelophila, 

 Lw., has been reared from berries which have lost their firmness and 

 therefore may prove a serious pest of stored fruit. The weevil, 

 Pseudanthonomus validus, Dietz, is widely distributed in Maine, where 

 it attacks V. pennsylvanicum and F. canadense. It has also been 

 reported as a serious currant pest in Montana. Hibernation of this 

 species occurs in the adult stage. Oviposition takes place in June, 

 the eggs being usually deposited in the calyx lobes. The larva, upon 

 hatching, tunnels to the centre of the berry and feeds there for 30 or 31 

 days. Pupation occurs in the same position, and the normal duration 

 of this period is about nine days. Adults emerge from the middle of 

 July to the middle of August, feed for some time on the berries, then 

 hibernate. In spring, the overwintering adults feed readily on the 

 leaves. There is probably but one generation annually in Maine ; 

 larvae found in August may have developed from eggs deposited late 

 by overwintering forms, or it is possible that they may represent a 

 partial second generation. P. validus is parasitised by Catolaccus sp., 

 by the fungus, Sporotrichum globuUferum, and possibly by several 

 Hymenoptera. A species of Epinotia possibly E. fasciolana, Clem., 

 has been reared from all three species of Vaccinium and appears to be 

 generally distributed throughout the state. Eggs are deposited round 

 the calyx lobes during the latter part of June and early July, The 

 larval stage, which is passed within the berry, occupies about 25 days. 

 When mature, the larvae leave the berries and in the laboratory 

 entered rotten wood in preference to sand or earth. The winter is 

 passed in a cocoon and pupation probably takes place in the spring. 

 This species is parasitised by an Ichneumon, a species of Pimpla near 

 P. indagatrix, Walsh. The larva of the parasite was found on 11th 

 August, pupated on 14th, and emerged as an adult on 21st August. 

 The eggs of Nobis rufusculus, Reut. (blueberry damsel-bug) oviposits 

 on V. jjennsylvanicum and F, canadense, but the nymphs and adults 

 are predaceous on each other, as well as on Psocids and spiders. 

 Eggs have been taken between the middle of June and the middle of 

 July and occasionally in August ; the latter may represent a partial 

 second generation. 



The most important leaf-feeding pest is the Chrysomelid, Galerucella 

 decora, Say, which has caused the death of many bushes in the vicinity 

 of Orono during the past three seasons. The beetle hibernates in the 

 adult stage. Adults are numerous by the middle of June, when 



