REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1902 101 



prising, since it frequently happens that a species introduced into 

 a new country forms new habits and depredates on other plants. 

 Mr Chittenden expresses the opinion that the insect has probably 

 been established in Canada for at least 18 years and adds that it 

 will probably not extend farther south than the upper Austral 

 life zone. 



Life history. The life history of this species does not appear 

 to have been worked out. The insect undoubtedly passes the 

 winter in puparia and, according to Mr Chittenden, possibly as 

 larvae. Since the larvae work on stored roots, the flies may de- 

 relop in winter, as occurred at Washington and also in our own 

 breeding cages. This permits great irregularity in development 

 and makes it impossible to accurately forecast the habits of the 

 insect in the field. The flies probably develop rather early in 

 the season and attack young carrots, which turn a rusty red 

 color. An examination will show that the roots have been dis- 

 figured with rusty patches, specially toward the tip. Both the 

 flies and maggots are found throughout the warmer months, but 

 the latter desert the roots and pupate in the earth. It is very 

 probable that the last generation in a season descends much 

 deeper than the earlier ones. The life cycle is completed in three 

 or four weeks, as stated by Curtis, and no one appears to have 

 determined the number of generations which may be produced. 

 Mr Chittenden is of the opinion that there are at least two and 

 probably more, and we are inclined to think his estimate is a 

 conservative one. Miss Ormerod states that the fly goes into the 

 ground for oviposition wherever it can find a crack or other 

 opening about the roots, and that the maggots, after hatching, 

 work their way into the roots and even when quite small destroy 

 the entire lower portion. 



Description. The adult or parent fly is quite minute, measuring 

 •nly about | inch in length and with a wing expanse of little 

 more than ^s^ inch. The color is dark green, by some authors 

 given as black, and the insect is rather sparsely clothed with 

 yellow hairs. The head and legs are pale yellow and the eyes 

 black. 



The maggot or larva is pale yellowish white when half grown 

 and when full grown presents a general resemblance to that of the 

 ofceese maggot, to which the species is somewhat closely related. 



