REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST 229 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



THE NARCISSUS FLY (Merodon equestris F.). 



During the past few years this insect has been noticeably present in British 

 Columbia. It was recorded in 1908 by Prof. R. C. Osborn*, having been caught by Mr. 

 Harvey frequenting especially the flowers of the Salmon Berry (Rubus spectabilis). 

 Professor Osborn believes that it properly belongs to our North American fauna, but 

 I am unable to agree with him on account of its history in Canada and other countries. 

 I am of the opinion that it has been introduced into Canada on imported bulbs, as I 

 have found the larvae during the present year on bulbs imported into Ontario from 

 Holland. It had been previously captured on Mount Royal, Montreal, by Mr. G. 

 Chagnon in 1903. In British Columbia, it is now a serious pest of bulbs, and Mr. A. E. 

 Wallace reported it as attacking narcissus and daffodil bulbs near Victoria, B.C., 

 about 50,000 bulbs having been destroyed in the year. Mr. G. Norman has kindly fur- 

 nished me with particulars as to many of its habits in that locality which was visited 

 in October. The perfect insect in seen from March to September and appears to 

 begin to breed in May. The eggs are probably deposited in the centre of the leaf 

 crown. The larvse are found in the centre of the bulb, having made their entrance 

 through the base of the bulb. The bulbs are destroyed by the larva? or maggots eating 

 away the flattened stem at the base of the bulb and afterwards destroying the centre of 

 the bulb. Professor Ritzema Bos, State Entomologist of Holland, who has written 

 the most complete accountf of this insect, records the eggs as being laid in the soil 

 adjoining the foliage. He informs me that it attacks chiefly Narcissios tagetta and 

 Jonquillas in Holland. Mr. Norman has observed that the early varieties of daffodils, 

 such as ' Golden Spur ' and ' Henry Irving ' are not attacked and that such varieties 

 of narcissus as N. poeticus ornatus and N. p. poetarum suffer considerably. 



The method of eradication which has been found most simple and efficient in 

 Europe is the annual lifting of the bulbs and the destruction of all those which are 

 found to be attacked by the maggots, as can readily be seen. This method has been 

 found effective in England, and also, Professor Ritzema informs me, in Holland. 

 Soaking in water is of no value and the -destruction of the pupgj in the soil by the 

 removal of the latter in the spring is impracticable in a large scale. Satisfactory 

 results may possibly be obtained by poisoning the adult flies with sweetened arsenical 

 baits, and experiments on this are being carried on in British Columbia. 



NOTES ON THE MORE IMPORTANT INSECTS REPORTED TO THE 



DIVISION DURING THE YEAR. 



The following notes refer to a number of the most prevalent insects which have 

 been reported to and received by the Division during the past year (April, 1910. to 

 March, 1911). Lack of space prevents a detailed treatment of these insects, but their 

 occurrence is recorded for the sake of future reference, and for those who may desire 

 such information as to the distribution and occurrence of certain of the more prevalent 

 insect pests. 



INSECTS AFFECTING FIELD AND ROOT CROPS. 



Wireworms and White Grubs were reported most frequently. They were destruc- 

 tive to grass lands, cereals,, roots and other field crops. Root maggots were destructive 

 to cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips, radishes and onions throughout Canada. The experi- 

 ments which we are conducting on means of controlling these insects confirm our 

 opinion as to the efficacy of the method of protecting the cauliflowers and cabbages by 

 means of the tarred felt paper cards. This method is fully described in the report 



* Canadian Entomologist, Vol 40, p. 10. 



t ' La mouclie du Narcisse (Merodon equestris F.)' Arch. Musee Teyler, Vol. 2, pp. 45-95. 



