REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 203 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



circumstance and merely shows the readiness with which flying insects settle down 

 and deposit their eggs when suitable food for their young is found. 



The work of the larvae inside the stems sent from Buffalo Lake was plainly 

 noticeable, and the Wheat-stem Saw-fly was undoubtedly the cause of the stems being 

 cut off. 



As pointed out by Mr. Tuxford, the larva does burrow down very deeply into 

 the base of attacked stems ; but I think that the burning over of stubbles will be 

 found a very useful remedy against this insect. Fall ploughing in most seasons in 

 the West is difiicult, owing to the lack of moisture: but where the Wheat-stem Saw-fly 

 has been abundant, it is important that wheat should not be sown on stubble land 

 unless a good burn has been secured, and if possible the land should be ploughed 

 deeply either in fall or spring. Summer fallowing every other year as is done by many 

 f aimers at Moose Jaw, and doing the work early, before the middle of June, will do 

 much to control this insect. 



' Cottonwood, Assa., August 13. — Can you tell me the cause of my wheat being 

 cut down in this way? As you notice, it is fully ripe. It was grown on summer 

 fallow. We have had heavy rains lately, which probably accounts for so much being 

 broken down. I shall be grateful for any information which will help me to destroy 

 this grub.' 



' August 31. — I undertook the search for the specimens you asked for, this 

 afternoon, and although there were any number of cut-off wheat stems scattered on 

 the field it was diflRcult to locate the lower end, as nearly all seemed to be gnawed off 

 at a level with and sometimes below the ground.' — Harold D. Buchanan. 



The wheat here referred to was injured by the larvse, and was merely broken off 

 by the wind and rain. The stems were cut off mostly at the surface of the ground, 

 and the larvae would have been destroyed in these instances by burning over the 

 stubble. 



' Osier, Sask., August 7. — In searching for more specimens of the swollen stems 

 which we have been communicating about, I found to-daj' one fallen straw in which 

 there was a small worm about fth of an inch in length; it was at the broken point, 

 but immediately below the joint, with no appearance of a swelling on the stem. I 

 think this is a different trouble from that which causes the swollen stems.' 



' September 15. — I was much interested to hear that you had found a specimen of 

 the Wheat-stem Saw-fly larva in the wheat straw I sent. However, I do not think it 

 can be at all prevalent here ; for, while searching around so much for the swollen stems 

 •which I sent you at the same time, this was the only specimen I found which showed 

 any trace of the work of an insect.' — Percy B. Grant. 



Remedies. — The means which are to be recommended for checking the increase 

 of the Wheat-stem Saw-fly are : The burning over or ploughing deeply of all stubbles, 

 also burning of such straw as is not used by the following spring, and summer- 

 fallowing in June every other year. 



Undoubted specimens of Wheat-stem Saw-fly were sent with the above letters, but 

 some other correspondents who wrote of this insect were mistaken as to the identity 

 of the insect they complained of. 



Injuries to Wheat due to Weather. 



There were several curious condition? of wheat in the West last season, which can 

 only be accounted for by unusual climatic conditions, chiefly the excessive drought, 

 accompanied with great heat and bright sunshine in the last days of June. The ears 

 of wheat were scalded just as they emerged from the sheath or just inside it. Shade 

 trees which had been planted for several years were also severely injured by this 

 unusual heat. The thermometer along the Canadian Pacific Railway through Mani- 

 toba and westward as far at any rate as Regina, registered 98 to 106 and 107 degrees 

 Fahr. in the shade on the three successive days June 28, 29 and 30. Spruce trees 



