THE CRANBERRY SPAN-WORM. 2a 
cranberry twig, and their habit of clasping the twig with their anal legs 
or claspers and stretching out from it perfectly straight and motionless, 
they are very often overlooked, and it is not until they become very 
numerous that they attract attention. Usually they are checked by 
parasites, which prey upon them, but in some spot, almost every year, 
they become numerous enough to be destructive. This year it was a 
bog at Cotuit under the charge of Capt. S. Ames. On August 9, in his 
company, I visited this bog. No sooner did we come in sight of it than 
the space covered by the insects was seen. Elsewhere of a deep, rich 
green, where they were working everything was of a bare, yellow brown: 
Reaching the bog I found where these insects were working that abso- 
lutely every green thing had been -eaten up; not a leaf, not a bud re- 
mained; even the soft terminal shoots had been eaten off and only the 
hard, dry twigs remained. At first I could see no larvee, but on closer 
examination I found that what I had taken as bare twigs sticking out 
were really larvee; a dozen of them were sometimes found on a single 
spray, and not a spray escaped. Captain Ames says they started from 
a place about a rod square, ate that all up, spread out alittle, and then 
started in a direct line across the bog. At this time they had nearly 
completed their journey, and were about full-grown. Reaching what 
might be called the head of the army, every spray was found loaded 
with larvee; yet so deceptive was their appearance that it was at first 
impossible to realize their vast number. A small fire was built in that 
portion of the bog just passed over, the wind carrying the smoke through 
the advance guard of the host. In a moment everything was in motion ; 
the very plants seemed alive from the host of larve crawling among them, 
The only thing at all comparable to it which I had witnessed is the 
march of the army worm. Going back over the eaten portion, almost 
everywhere I chose to dig, pupxe were found about an inch beneath the 
surface. The number of moths that would be produced should these 
pupe all transform would be frightful. Luckily, the larva seems sub- 
ject to attacks of parasites, and while I did not myself succeed in raising 
these parasites, a lot of larvie sent to the Department to be raised may 
have done better. 
REMEDIES. 
Where these insects cover an entire bog nothing in the way of a crop 
can be hoped for, and the best thing that can be done is to flow the bog. 
Where they cover but a part of the bog, or where it cannot be flowed, 
Paris green should be used, preferably mixed with rye flour, and it should 
be liberally applied. No danger can result, because no crop can be 
picked off the portion attacked by them. If they are noticed when they 
first begin to work, and cover but a small space, kerosene prepared and 
used as suggested for the Anchylopera is preferable. Being open feed- 
ers there is no difficulty in reaching them, and the action will be rapid 
and certain. Instead of Paris green, pyrethrum may be used; it is 
