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CRANBERRY INSECTS IN NEW JERSEY
The old literature is replete with references to dramatic outbreaks of insects which caused severe damage to crops.
The early pioneers in cranberry growing had to stoically endure the ravages of caterpillars which they called "fireworms" because their feeding made bogs look like fire had swept through them.
The Proceedings of the American Cranberry Growers Association which records growers ‘observations on problems of cranberry growing, in two issues a year dating back to 1869, mentions insects most frequently as the most serious and destructive natural enemies of cranberries.
Yellow-headed fire-worms, black- headed fireworms, girdler worms, sparganothis fruitworms(false yellow-headed fireworms), blossom worms, cranberry fruitworms, and even grasshoppers are listed as having completely destroyed cranberry crops.
In Pearl Buch’s classic of literature, "The Good Earth", there are unforgettable poignant scenes of doughty Chinese natives futilely battling plagues of locusts with sticks and fire.
Cranberry growers were not quite as desparate as this in the early days, but they were completely at the mercy of the insects until they discovered a method of control unique in agriculture–the use of water.
Flooding to control insects on cranberry bogs has been in use now for more than 100 years.
William Fish, an investigator employed by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association in 1969, recommended spring reflows to control black-headed fireworms and holding the winter flood to suppress cranberry fruitworm.
He also reported the failure of flooding to kill maggots of tipworm, Tomlinson (1).
John B. Smith (2) studied cranberry insects in both New Jersey and Massachusetts, beginning in 1883. His publication in 1890 was the first significant one on this subject.
He listed black-headed fireworm, yellow-headed fireworm, cranberry fruitworm, cranberry tipworm, cranberry katydid, and cranberry leafhopper.
Only the