Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
The black army cutwarm, Actebia fennica (Tausch.), is the most important pest of foliage of the low-bush blueberry in New Brunswick. Although usually of minor importance, it periodically appears in outbreak proportions and destroys the entire crop in heavily infested helds. Such an outbreak occurred in Charlotte County in 1944 and 1945, when the present study was initiated.
The data presented in this paper are based on insectary-reared material, supplemented where possible by field observations. Larvae were reared individually in jelly jars or waxed cardboard cups and fed daily on fresh blueberry foliage. Observations on oviposition were made possible by mating reared moths.