242 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



■adapted either for living upon land or in the water. The piiparia may 

 be formed in the home of the larvae, but they are usually found in the 

 soil. The adults are exceedingly numerous, and, with the exception of 

 the mosquitoes, are diurnal in habits, preferring bright sunshine. 



The control of this group is very difficult, due to the great productive- 

 ness of the females and the secluded work of the larvae. A contact 

 spray is usually recommended for sucking insects, but are of little avail 

 against the maggots, while poison baits and sprays are readily lapped 

 up by adult flies and give some aid as control measures. The reduction 

 of the number of maggots is only accomplished by the destruction of 

 the adults. 



Natural enemies play an important role in checking the tremendous 

 increase of a great many species. Predaceous insects prey upon the 

 larvge and adults while internal parasites attack nearly all stages. 



The classification of this large order is very complicated, being com- 

 posed of many suborders, families and subfamilies, so that no attempt 

 will be made to designate any but those which are of economic impor- 

 tance to the agriculturists in California. 



THE ALFALFA CRANE-FLY. 

 Tipula simplex Doane (Family Tipulidse). 



(Fig-s. 239, 240.) 



General Appearance. — The adults are long-legged, slender-bodied 

 insects of a light brown color. The females are wingless while the 

 males are winged and somewhat smaller, lighter in color and with 

 longer, frailer legs. The average length of the adult female is about 

 one half of an inch. 



Fig. 239. — Adult male and female of the 

 alfalfa crane-fly, Tipula simplex Doane. (After 

 Carnes and Newcomer.) 



Life History. — The small, oval, dark gray eggs are deposited as 

 deeply into the soil as the length of the female's abdomen will allow. 

 They are laid throughout the early spring and summer. These soon 

 hatch into light colored maggots, M^hich begin to feed upon the roots 

 of plants. When full grown they are from three fourths to nearly an 



