CAPE COD CRANBERRY INSECTS 37 



On bogs that can be reflooded. — Flood for 15 liours as soon as tlie net count 

 (see page 3) shows it is necessary. 



^pratjiiKi. 



^\'llat lias been said of the spotted cutworm in regard to sjiraying is true 

 of this insect. Spraying witli lead arsenate is a standard control in the South. 



BaituKj. 



See page 26. 



SPAfxWORMS 



These insects, known also as loopers and inchwornis, have a striking way of 

 crawling. They stretch out at full length, take hold with the front legs, 

 and then bring forward the hind end close to the front pairs of feet, the body 

 between bending well up out of the way. This habit is due to the lack of 

 several legs that other caterpillars have to support the middle of the body. 

 The hind part has only two pairs of legs. 



These worms are more slender than most caterpillars. They are hairless 

 and feed openly, never sewing leaves together. When disturlied they cling to 

 their support by the hind pairs of legs and remain straight and motionless. 

 As they usually are colored to harmonize with their habitual surroundings and 

 often resemble short or tiroken twigs, this habit tends to save tliem from their 

 enemies. 



These insects commonly attack bogs here and there in Massachusetts l)ut, 

 save the chain-spotted geometer, have never been reported as doing so else- 

 where. The kinds seen most on the bogs may be distinguished i)y the following: 



Talde of Worms. 

 Body mostly pale yellowisli or pinkisii, with a reddish 



herringbone stripe along tiie back Eupithecin minerula'n Gr." 



Body mostly yellow chain-spotted geometer (p. 46). 



Body mostly green green cranberry spanworm (p. 39). 



Body mostly brown or gray 1 



1. Witii a row of conspicuous irregular reddish yellow 



spots along each side red-S))otted spanworm." 



Not thus marked 2 



2. With a pair of noticeable tuliercles a little way 



from the middle of the back 3 



Without such tubercles brown cranberry spanworm (p. 41). 



3. The tubercles in front of the middle of the back cotton spanworm (p. 44). 

 The tubercles behind the middle of the back 



big cranberry spanworm (p. 44). 



The green cranberry sjjanworm and tile brown craniierry spanworm are far 

 more important pests than the others, and when either of them liecomes pre- 

 valent it usually stays with the bog year after year till it is treated. They 



43. An unimportant worm that often eats into the green berries and into meadow beauty 

 flower buds. 



44. An unimportant worm, nearly an inch and a half long when mature, rather common 

 during the first half of June on dry bogs and bogs that are not reflooded. It also attacks swamp 

 blueberry. The moth has not yet been reared. 



