- A LITTLEKNOAYN ASPARAGUS PEST.* 



Agromyza simplea; Loew.^ 



F. A. SiRRINB. 



SUMMARY. 



The asparagus miner is not generally known as an injurious 

 pest to asparagus, its work being first observed in the fall of 

 1896. 



There are two distinct broods of the miner on Long Island. 



At present the only known means of controlling the increase 

 -of this pest is pulling the old stalks after they have been, killed 

 -by frost and burning them. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the fall of 1896 the author accompanied the Station. 

 Botanist on a tour of inspection of the asparagus fields for aspara- 

 gus rust. While in the fields some plants were pulled to ascer- 

 tain if the rust occurred on the portion of the stalk below the 

 surface of the ground. Many stalks were found to have the 

 puparia of some fly buried beneath the epidermis especially in 

 the iwrtion of the stalk which was below the surface of the 

 g'round. Some of the material was preserved for breeding, but 

 the lack of a suitable place, at that time, for keeping such mate- 

 rial so that it would not get too dry, resulted in our failing to 

 breed the adults. During the past year the adult fly was reared 

 from some of the old, infested stalks collected early in May. 

 This pest has no common name. Possibly " asparagus miner " 

 would be appropriate. 



♦Reprint of Bulletin No. 189. 



'Kindly verified for the author by Mr. D. "W. Coquillet, "Washington, 

 D. C. 



