THE BLACKHEAD EIRE WORM OF CRANBERRY. 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 larvae of the first generation appear on the bogs in greatest 
abundance about the latter part of May, the pupse toward the middle 
of June, and the moths about the first or second week in July. 
A fungous disease which attacks the pupse 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 50 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 Avere conducted in which 40 
per cent nicotine sulphate 1 to 800, with fish-oil soap 2 pounds to 50 
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. 
