94 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETATION 



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 any 

 shelter they can find in cranberry houses, barns, or other build- 

 ings; 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, 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 early May. They 

 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 submerged, eggs are laid on the underside of the 

 leaves. These eggs resemble those of the blackhead species so 

 closely that, except for their fresher, brighter appearance, no dif- 

 ferences can be observed even with a good hand lens. By the middle 

 of May in New Jersey, 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 prac- 

 tical control of the insect. The eggs hatch in a week or ten days 

 depending much upon the weather the worms make their way 

 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. 



This matter of distinguishing between the two is of decided 

 importance, because, while the feeding habits are similar, there are 

 vitally important differences that affect remedial measures. The 

 yellowheads are, on the whole, stouter than the blackheads, and, as 

 a rule, lighter in color. They are also less active and, especially 

 when nearly full grown, do not so readily wriggle out of their 

 nests. 



The yellowheads grow fast, and are ready to pupate late in 

 May or very early in June, a little before the blackheads appear. 

 The second moths appear early in June, but are now bright orange 

 red in color, whereas the first moths are slate gray. The second 

 lot of eggs hatch toward the end of June, and the yellowhead worms 

 are nearly half grown when the cranberries are in full bloom, early 

 in July, when the second brood of blackheads has just started. They 

 make even larger webs than the blackheads, and are even fonder of 

 boring into the fruit. It is not uncommon to see half a dozen up- 

 rights and runners all tied together in one large web, in which 

 leaves, even if not eaten, turn brown and die. By the middle of 

 July or a little later the yellowheads are again full grown and 

 change to pupae. The worms spin a silken cell, in which the 

 change takes place, and the pupa is dark brown or blackish, with 

 a little knob-like protuberance on the head case. This peculiarity 

 makes the species easily distinguishable from the same stage of 

 the blackheads. 



