DIPTERA. 441 



who is so well qualified for the task, be induced to devote the 

 necessary time and attention to this subject, we have reason to 

 think that the interests of science and of agriculture would be 

 greatly promoted thereby. 



The American wheat-insect, in its winged form, has not yet 

 fallen under my notice. It is stated by Judge Buel, Mrs. Gage, 

 and others, to agree exactly with the description of the Euro- 

 pean wheat-fly (Cecidomyia Tritici), being a very small orange- 

 colored gnat, with long slender legs, and two transparent wings, 

 which reflect the tints of the rainbow. Immense swarms of these 

 orange-colored gnats infest fields of grain towards the last of June. 

 While the sun shines they conceal themselves among the leaves 

 and weeds near the ground. They take wing during the morning 

 and evening twilight, and also in cloudy weather, when they lay 

 their eggs in the opening flowers of the grain. New swarms con- 

 tinue to come forth in succession, till the end of July ; but Mr. 

 Buel says that the principal deposit of eggs is made in the first 

 half of July, when late sown winter-wheat and early sown spring- 

 wheat are in the blossom or milk. The flies are not confined to 

 wheat alone, but deposit in barley, rye, and oats, when these 

 plants are in flower at the time of their appearance. The eggs 

 hatch in about eight days after they are laid, when the little yellow 

 maggots or grain-worms may be found within the chaffy scales of 

 the grain. Being hatched at various times during a period of 

 four or five weeks, they do not all arrive at maturity together. 

 Mrs. Gage informs me that they appear to come to their growth 

 in twelve or fourteen days. Specimens of these maggots, which 

 she has sent to me, were found to agree, in every respect, with 

 the descriptions and figures of those of the European wheat-fly. 

 They do not exceed one eighth of an inch in length, and are not 

 provided with feet. From two to fifteen or twenty have been 

 found within the husk of a single grain, and sometimes in every 

 husk in the ear. After a shower of rain they have been seen in 

 such countless numbers on the beards of the wheat, as to give a 

 yellow color to the whole field.* These insects prey on the 

 grain in the milky state, and their ravages cease when the grain 



" New England Farmer," Vol. XII., p. 60. 

 56 



