10 



BULLETIN 1032, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE, 



Feeding Habits. 



A newlj' hatched h^rva begins feeding shortly after it leaves the 

 egg, but may wander about for from 15 minutes to half an hour be- 

 fore taking any food. It usually starts feeding on the underside 

 of the leaves, generally near the eggshell from which it has just 

 emerged. At first it bites into the epidermis of the leaf, and. mix- 

 ing the nibblings with the thread of silk which it spins continuously 

 from several points beneath its lower lip. soon covers itself with a 



Fig. 3. — The blackhead flreworm : Characteristic work of the newly hatched larvse on 

 the underside of cranberry leaves. 



greenish brown material which has the appearance of fine sawdust. 

 For a time it continues to chew into the leaf, feeding principally be- 

 tween the upper and lower surfaces, acting in many respects like 

 a leaf-miner. (See fig. 3.) This is particularly^ characteristic of the 

 earlj'-hatchecl larvse of the first generation. The larvae of this gen- 

 eration which hatch later, and usuallj^ those of later generations 

 hatched in warmer weather after the new growth is well out. pro- 

 ceed almost directly to the tip, spending very little time as leaf- 

 miners. 



