Volume IV 



SEPTEMBER, 1917 



Nos. 1 and 2 



FRIT FLY {OSCINUS FRIT) ATTACKING 

 WINTER WHEAT. 



By F. R. PETHERBRIDGE. 



(School of Agriculture, Cambridge.) 



From enquiries sent in during the past three years, there is little 

 doubt that in addition to the damage it does to late sown spring oats, 

 the "frit fly" must also be reckoned as a pest of winter wheat in this 

 country. Several observers have recorded this fly as attacking winter 

 wheat on the continent. 



The first enquiry was received in March, 1914, from Mr C. J. Little- 

 wood, Whitwell Hall, Skeyton, near Norwich. Specimens of dead and 

 dying wheat plants were sent in and in these the larvae of the "frit fly" 

 were found. Unfortunately the wheat was ploughed in just after the 

 plants were sent, but this will serve to show that the damage done 

 must have been considerable. This wheat was sown about December 1st. 



On March 1st, 1915, an enquiry was received from Mr H. V. Shering- 

 ham, Blue Stone Farm, South Creake, Norfolk. Here 54 acres of wheat 

 were sown on November 11th — 15th, receiving a dressing of farmyard 

 manure, and following a crop of Rye Grass and Clover. Mr Sheringham 

 writes as follows: "The wheat was slow in coming up owing to 

 excessive rain." Although about 20 % of the plants were attacked by 

 the larvae of the "frit fly" the wheat tillered well in the spring and pro- 

 duced a fair crop (about 32 bushels per acre). 



In 1916, an enquiry was received from Messrs Tayton, White Hall 

 Farm, Syderstone, Norfolk, concerning fields c^uite near to Mr Shering- 

 ham' s farm. 



Three fields were badly attacked by the larvae of the "frit fly," 

 their previous cropping being : 



