18 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 239 



Ked-striped Fireworm. 



Fig. 17. Moth. Much enlarged. 



Fig. 18. Cranberry upright with eggs between stem and base of leaf. Much enlarged. 



Fig. 19. Larva. Considerably enlarged. 



Tlie eggs are irregularly ellipsoid and aliout a fortieth of an inch long. Tliey 

 are very plastic and pearl white when laid, iiut turn pinkish or yellowisii l)e- 

 fore hatching. They usually are wedged in between the vine and the petiole 

 or the base of the blade of a leaf (fig. 18), or are placed among the bracts of 

 an opening terminal bud, but are deposited also under loose bark. They 

 usually hatch from mid- June to mid-August, the egg stage lasting about six- 

 teen davs in earlv June and about nine in late July. 



The M'onn. 



The newly hatched larva is pale greenish yellow, with the head and cervical 

 shield l)rown. As it grows its head becomes yellowish, and dull reddish lines 

 appear running the length of the back and sides. The mature worm (fig. 19) 

 is fully three-eighths of an inch long and is more slender and agile than other 

 firewornis. 



