It has caused serious losses in Massachusetts and Wisconsin which are the highest producing cranberry states in the U.S. Tipworm is about the size of a pinhead and reproduces quickly. By causing the plant to reduce flower buds, it can also reduce the following year's harvest. The insect is thought to be dependent on cranberries and goes through up to five generations in one growing season. A pesticide is currently used to control tipworm, but as a result of suspected resistance by the insect, it does not appear to be very effective in Maine. Armstrong is helping growers to use other techniques such as applying sand to bogs and applying a growth inhibitor.
Sand kills tipworm larvae which overwinter on the surface of the bogs.
Growth inhibitors interfere with the tipworm's life cycle by disrupting the molting process and are thus harmless to most other organisms. The particular inhibitors that might be used to control tipworm are still considered experimental and are being tested in Massachusetts and Wisconsin laboratories. Armstrong would like to see Maine develop a research program focused on the needs of local industry. Armstrong has also considered steps to identify insects which could control tipworm naturally. Spiders, a particular syrphid fly, and possibly egg-devouring ladybugs could all provide protection, but so far, they do not appear to be effective.