394 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



giou that no lice appeared at all during early spring, and later it re- 

 required close .search to detect them scattered here and there through 

 the yards; and at no time did they become numerous enough to do any 

 damage whatever. On the whole, the hop was remarkably free from 

 all insect attack. I am able, therefore, to add nothing to my previous 

 report on the subject. 



CRANBERRY INSECTS. 



THE CRANBERRY FRUIT-WORM * 



Last season I decided that the Phycid attacking the fruit probably 

 deposited its egg either in the flower or on the young berry; and this 

 season, when the plants began to blossom, I visited Cape Cod to watch 

 for the appearance of the insect. In order that I might the more easily 

 recognize the species, I obtained from Washington a perfect specimen, 

 bred from material forwarded by me last year. During the first ten 

 days of July the weather was decidedly unfavorable to insect life or to 

 the rapid development of such forms as hibernated in the pupa state. 

 There was more or less rain each day, and the nights were cold, often 

 unpleasantly so, and the bogs were sodden. The plants developed rap- 

 idly and the berries were very generally set, and still no trace of the 

 insect had appeared on bogs that every previous season had been badly 

 infested. At last, near the middle of July, on a few bogs close to the 

 shore, very sandy, and so high that they could not be flowed during the 

 winter, I found a few specimens of the imago. I secured both sexes 

 and confined them, putting with them both flowers and young berries. 

 On July 11, the day after securing the above mentioned specimens, I 

 again visited the bog where they were fouud, and though I searched 

 carefully and persistently, not a single specimen could be discovered. 

 July 12, again visited the same bog, and without great search secured 

 eight specimens, but this seemed to have exhausted the stock. These 

 specimens I distributed among growers in order that they might make 

 optical acquaintance with the insect. 



On Sandy Neck, a point opposite Barnstable, across the bay, on bogs 

 which also could not be flowed, a few more specimens were found, 

 which were also distributed among growers. Nowhere was it common, 

 and it always is difficult to start up. It is very sluggish and easily 

 taken after its situation is ascertained. 



Until July 16 I found occasional specimens on high, warm, and dry 

 bogs, and then no more could be discovered. Now commenced the 

 search for eggs, and gathering a large number of berries of all sizes, 

 and blossoms, I carefully examined them and succeeded in finding where 

 and how the egg is deposited. The egg itself is white, or with a faint 

 yellowish tinge, elongate oval when laid, but soft, and adapting itself 

 to the locality where laid. 



No eggs were found on blossoms or very young berries ; the largest 

 berries were most certain to show an egg, and never more than one egg 

 was found on a berry. The egg is laid on the lower end qf the berry, in 

 the scar left by the flower, and under one of the four trigonate flaps 

 more or less covering that scar. It is therefore sheltered, and difficult 

 to find and reach. The insects in confinement mated, and the 9 read- 

 ily oviposited; but as the number of berries was small, several eggs were 

 laid on a single berry, and some even on leaves. In natural circum- 

 stances one egg only is laid on a berry. A few young larvae were also 

 found on the bogs, and one on a berry in bottle containing the cap- 



* This is described as Acrohasis vaceinii on page 356. 



