NEMATOCERA. 55 



are pedunculated, but longer than in the female. The terminal 

 joint no longer than the others. 



Hair on the scutellum is also different to the female, being white 

 or gray. 



Abdomen black, pink at the end, marked in the same way as in 

 the female, but the black spots have united, owing to the thinness 

 and elongation of the body. 



A pink line is seen down the centre of the dorsal segments, and 

 often a streak across each segment at its edge. The last segment is 

 pink, and bears a pair of claspers of a brown colour ; between these 

 claspers are situated the generative organs.* 



Legs lighter than in rhe female. 



Wings not so dark as the female, and longer in proportion to the 

 size of the body. 



The colours vary as the insects grow ; by some observers they are 

 said to possess a reddish tinge when hatched (Enock). 



Miss Ormerod saw the changes taking place as described by 

 Wagner: "from a golden-brown, through the shades of mulberry 

 with transverse black bands above on the first six segments of the 

 abdomen, on to the general brown tints of the abdomen," etc.t 



Mr. Enock finds the ? flies shy and retiring, hiding themselves 

 under leaves and in holes in the ground, and resting on the earth, 

 where their dark colour protects them. The first brood appears in 

 August or beginning of September, and the second towards the end 

 of April or May. Egg-laying continues through May and June. 

 The eggs are laid either on wheat or barley ; oats at present not 

 being attacked by this fly. Rye is, however, subject to the injurious 

 attacks of this most important insect pest. 



At present we are not aware that it attacks root crops in any way, 

 nor pulse, such as beans, peas and tares. 



Couch grass {Triticiim repens) suffers largely from the Hessian-fly ; 

 in Russia whole districts have been destroyed ; it is also known to 

 attack "Timothy grass" {Phleuin pratense) ; and at present, as far 

 as we can tell, many more may be attacked in a similar way. Agri- 

 culturists should note this, as thick, grassy hedges, etc., near corn- 

 fields may form nurseries for the Hessian-flies to develop. It also 

 shows how beneficial burning stubble is in destroying this pest. 



The ova are placed by the female a little above a node or joint 

 of the wheat or barley stem. Dr. Griffiths says, in his manual of 

 "Diseases of Crops," that the larvae establish themselves "just 



* Entomologist, 1887, p. 172. Fig. of male genital organs.— Meade, 

 f " Life-History of Hessian-Fly in Britain." Entomologist, 1S87, p. 9. 



