8 BULLETIN 554, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Whitesbog, N-. J., records of late-flying moths have been kept for 

 three years, and it is not unusual to find them flying until mid- August. 

 The heavily shaded places, from which the flowage is slow in drain- 

 ing, probably retard the development of the immature forms in the 

 cocoons and thus give riseto later issuing moths. These are the con- 

 ditions which have led to the erroneous conclusion that more than 

 one brood occurs in the course of a season. 



The moths, which are strong fliers, are seldom noted in their con- 

 cealment among the vines, but when disturbed they fly several rods 

 or more, finally seeking shelter in the vines again and often running 

 down to the trash for security. When resting, the moths fold the 

 wings tightly around the body and are inconspicuous ; at night, with 

 the aid of a lantern, they may be seen in this position clinging to 

 vines or the stems of tall grasses. 



Proportion of sexes. — In the early summer the males and females 

 appear to be about equal in number; for example, on June 11, 24 

 moths were collected, of which 12 were males and 12 were females. 

 In late summer, however, the males are far in excess of the females, 

 as shown by the following collections: Thirteen moths taken July 

 27 consisted of 11 males and 2 females, while of 23 moths collected 

 August 10 only 5 were females. 



EGG STAGE. 



In rearing cages the moths laid eggs from various positions, not 

 necessarily resting on the bottom of the cage, but dropping the eggs 

 from whatever position they happened to have assumed. No eggs 

 were found attached to the cranberry vines or sides of the cage, but 

 all were recovered on the cage floor. It is assumed, then, that on 

 the bogs the eggs are laid either when the moths have crawled down 

 to the trash or when they are clinging to vines or grasses. The eggs 

 are so minute that there is little possibility of finding any under 

 natural bog conditions. 



The moth has been known to be a prolific egg layer. Felt (6) 

 records one female that laid 700 eggs, 300 of them being deposited 

 on the first day. In the course of observations at Whitesbog, N. J., 

 a female was noted which laid 50 eggs in less than two hours. 



The data in Table II give the number of eggs per female secured 

 at Whitesbog, N. J., under insectary conditions. 



A male and female (reared) were placed in each cage and fed 

 sugar sirup. 



