12 



year. The cranberry vines will recover in appearance, and by the 

 middle of August look green and flourishing; but if the worms have 

 been numerous there will be no berries. 



Remedies. — The question of remedial measures will be considered 

 after the description of the next species, as the two need similar 

 treatment. 



THE YELL.OWHEAD CRANBERRY WORM. 



( Teras niinuta Rob. ) « 



This insect is much more abundant in New Jersey than it is in 

 Massachusetts, and in some localities in the latter State it does not 

 seem to occur as a cranberry feeder at all. It is quite as plentiful on 

 Long Island as it is in New Jersey, and wherever it occurs is apt to be 

 even more injurious than the preceding species. 



The common name here used describes the most conspicuous difler- 

 ence in the larval (worm) stage from the preceding species, and is 

 emploj^ed in preference to the term "vine worm" under which it used 

 to be best known in New Jersey. In this species the eggs are not on 

 the bogs during the winter. On the contrary, the moths themselves 

 hibernate in anj^ shelter they can find — in cranberry houses, barns, or 

 other buildings; under bark or bark scales on trees, and in numerous 

 other places where they may find protection from the direct influence 

 of the weather. At this season the moths are uniformly slate gray, 

 inconspicuous, much broader winged than the moth of the " black- 

 head worm," and apparently much larger in every way. They are on 

 the wing as soon as vegetation starts in spring and are ready to lay 

 their eggs during the latter part of April and earlj^ May. Thej'^ prefer 

 cranberry if they can get it; but if not, make a shift with huckleberry 

 or some allied plant, or even with apple. Wherever cranberry vines 

 run up on the dams above the water line, or are otherwise not sub- 

 merged, eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves. These eggs 

 resemble those of the blackhead species so closel}^ that, except for their 

 fresher, brighter appearance, no differences can be observed even 

 with a good hand lens. By the middle of May in New Jerse}^, and 

 perhaps a little later in Massachusetts, all the moths have disappeared. 

 This habit is an important one from the practical point of view and 

 gives in some localities practical control of the insect. The eggs hatch 

 in a week or ten days — depending much upon the weather — the worms 

 make their waj^ to the tips and spin together the terminal leaves, 

 exactly as do those of the preceding species. The yellow head is 

 practically the sure mark to tell this kind from the blackheads. 



« Treated in works on economic entomology, also, as Teras vacdniivorana Pack. 

 178 



