The Wlieat Mids:e. 309 



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Sowers of the grain, or when the wheat is still in the milky state. 

 The eggs hatch in about eight days, when the little yellow maggots 

 or worms may be found within the chaffy scales of the grain. 

 The seed scales of o-rass also sometimes serve as a shelter for these 

 depredators. The worms, which are of a bright yellow or orange 

 color, do not exceed an eight of an inch in length, and are often 

 much smaller. I have seen as many as twelve within the chaff 

 of one single grain, sent to the Patent Office from Ohio. These 

 maggots prey upon the wheat when only in a milky state. When 

 they begin their depredations, soon after the blossoming of the 

 plant, they do the greatest injury, as the grains never fill out. 

 Towards the last of July or beginning of August, the full-grown 

 maggots cease eating, and become sluggish and torpid, prepara- 

 tory to shedding their skins, which takes place in the following 

 manner : the body of the maggot gradually shrinks in length 

 within its skin, and becomes more flattened and less pointed, as 

 readily may be seen through its delicate transparency. This torpid 

 state lasts only a few days, after which the insect casts its skin, 

 leaving the latter entire, except a little rent at one end of it. These 

 empty cases, or skins, may be found in great abundance in the 

 wheat ears, after the moulting process is completed. Mr. J. W. 

 Dawson,* of Pictou, Nova Scotia, says that sometimes the mag- 

 got descends from the plants and moults on the surface of the 

 ground. After shedding this skin, it recovers its activity, and 

 writhes about as at first, but takes no food. It is shorter, some- 

 what flattened, and more obtuse than before, and is of a deeper 

 yellow color, with an oblong greenish spot in the middle of the 

 body. Within two or three days after moulting, the maggots 

 either descend of their own accord or are shaken out of the ears 

 by the wind, and fall to the grbund. They do not let themselves 

 down by threads, as has been supposed by some, for they are not 

 able to spin. Nearly all of them disappear before the middle of 

 August, and they are rarely found in the grain at the time of 

 harvest. Hon. William D. Lindsley, of Sandusky City, Ohio, 

 however, sent me several specimens of wheat with this insect in 

 it as late as the beginning of August. From observations and 

 remarks made by intelligent farmers, it appears that the descent 

 of these insects is facilitated by falling rain and heavy dews. 

 Having reached the ground, the maggots soon burrow under the 

 surface, sometimes to the depth of an inch, those which have not 

 •moulted casting their skins before entering the earth. Here they 

 remain without further change through the following winter. It 

 is not usually before June that they are transformed to pupae, this 

 change being effected without another moulting of the skin. This 

 pupa state lasts but a short time, a week or two at most, and in 

 many cases only a few days. Under the most l^xvorable circum- 

 stances, the pupa works its way to the surface before liberating the 

 -included fly, and when the insect has taken wing, the empty pupa 



3b 



Ifow Principal of the University of McGill College, Montreal. 



