THE BLACKHEAD FIREWOEM OF CEANBEERY, 39 



Naturally the moths do not migrate more than a few yards, but, 

 helped by a strong wind, it is possible for them to be carried as far 

 as several hundred feet at a flight. In the egg stage, the fireworm 

 can be disseminated over a bog in two other ways — namely, on leaves 

 floating on the water which naturally gathers on the bog in the 

 winter time and on leaves on cuttings used in planting. 



Egg laying usually commences from one to several days after copu- 

 lation and closely follows the temperature, the largest number being 

 deposited between 3 and 9 p. m. 



The larvse of the first generation appear on the bogs in greatest 

 abundance about the latter part of May, the pupae toward the middle 

 of June, and the moths about the first or second week in July. 



A fungous disease which attacks the pupae in their cocoons in the 

 old leaves beneath the vines is responsible for the death of a large 

 number, especially on old and badly infested bogs. Spiders and 

 ladybird beetles also kill a large number of the fireworm moths and 

 larvae. 



Control experiments seeking to establish the best kind of spray 

 materials, the proper number of applications, and the most effective 

 manner of applying them, were conducted on small and large scales 

 under natural bog conditions. Forty per cent nicotine sulphate at 

 the rate of 1 part to 800 parts of water, with the addition of fish-oil 

 soap at the rate of 2 pounds to every 50 gallons, used at the rate of 

 about 300 gallons to the acre, was found to be the most effective spray 

 material against the fireworm. Forty per cent nicotine sulphate, 

 used at the rate of 1 part to 1,000 parts of water with the addition 

 of fish-oil soap, 2 pounds to every 50 gallons, was nearly as effective. 



Nicotine oleate made by mixing 2^ parts of a solution containing 

 40 per cent free nicotine with If parts of commercial oleic acid, or 

 red oil, and used at the rate of 1 part to 400 parts of water, applied 

 three times at the rate of about 300 to 400 gallons per acre, was found 

 nearly as effective as 40 per cent nicotine sulphate 1 to 800 with fish- 

 oil soap 2 to 50, applied three times at the minimum rate per acre. 

 Arsenate of lead proved of little or no value in the control of the 

 fireworm. Fish-oil soap, 2 pounds to 60 gallons of solution, was a 

 much better spreader for spray solutions on cranberry foliage than 

 glue, which was used at the rate of 1 pound to 200 gallons. One com- 

 pound containing a high percentage of crude carbolic acid and usually 

 employed as a disinfectant gave little or no control. 



Demonstration spraying experiments were conducted in which 40 

 per cent nicotine sulphate 1 to 800, with fish-oil soap 2 pounds to 60 

 gallons, was used. Four applications on McFarlin vines, in which 

 the eddy-chamber mist type of nozzle" was used, gave the best results, 

 producing the largest yield of berries and the highest percentage of 

 berries free from fireworm injury. 



