UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ULLETIN No. 554 



jgUf^Wu 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 

 L. O. HOWARD, Chief 



Washington, D. C. 



September 21, 1917 



THE CRANBERRY GIRDLER. 1 



By H. B. Scammell, 

 Entomological Assistant, Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Importance of the pest 1 



History 2 



Distribution 2 



Food plants 2 



Feeding habits and destructiveness 3 



Description of the cranberry girdler 5 



Page. 



Seasonal history : . . 7 



Natural enemies 12 



Remedial measures 13 



Recommendations for control 19 



Literature cited 19 



IMPORTANCE OF THE PEST. 



The severity of the attacks of the cranberry girdler {Crambus 

 hortuellus Hiibner) upon cranberry vines, together with its general 

 distribution throughout the cranberry-producing regions of the 

 United States, marks this pest as one of prime importance to this 

 industry. 



The investigations into the seasonal history of the girdler and the 

 observations on various methods employed to control it were made 

 in New Jersey throughout a period covering nearly four years. 2 



Bog-management practices in New Jersey are diverse, and many 

 opportunities have been offered to note the effects on cranberry- 

 girdler infestations following one practice or another. Although it 

 was stated by Smith (9, p. 21-24) 3 in 1903 that there is no such 

 destruction of large tracts in New Jersey as in Massachusetts, it is 

 apparent at this time that the girdler has become more of a pest each 



1 Crambus hortuellus ; order Lepidoptera, family Pyralidae, subfamily Crambinae. 



2 During the field seasons of 1914 and 1915 the writer was assisted by Mr. H. K. 

 Plank, of the Bureau of Entomology, and opportunity is here taken to acknowledge Mr. 

 Plank's services, particularly in the field of insect photography. The work has been 

 under the general supervision of Dr. A. L. Quaintance, Entomologist in Charge of 

 Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology. 



3 Reference is made by number to " Literature cited," p. 19. 



88633°— Bull. 554—17 1 



