112 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The "Notes" are not illnstrated, the student, as with the "Guide," making the 

 required drawings solely from the specimen in hand. The insects chosen are com- 

 mon forms, easily obtainable anywhere in the United States. 



INSECT NOTES. 



BY VEBNON L. KELLOGG, UNIVEBSITY OF KANSAS, LAWBENCE. 



It is hoped to present annually a few notes on Kansas insects, paying special at- 

 tention to those of economic importance. As no such notes were presented last 

 year, certain observations made in 1891 are included in the notes of this year. 

 Wheat-Stbaw Wobm {Isosoma tritici Riley). 



A considerable amount of injury to Kansas wheat accredited to the Hessian fly 

 is really done by the wheat-straw worm. In 1891, this insect was reported from 

 about one-fourth of the counties of the State, being especially prevalent in central 

 and western Kansas. Adults issue in March and April from last year's wheat straws, 

 either in stubble or volunteer or stack, and oviposit on the young winter wheat. 

 The adults of this brood emerge in the latter part of May and early part of June. 

 The eggs are laid in the now maturing wheat, and the larvae pupate in the stubble 

 or in the stack before winter. The larvae usually lie just above the second node be- 

 low the head. In a bunch of straws from Russell county, over 75 per cent, were in- 

 fested. In these straws, 40 per cent, of the pupae were found above the first node 

 below the head, 50 per cent, above the second node, and 10 per cent, elsewhere. They 

 lie in small, gnawed-out cells, and the heads are almost invariably directed up, i. e., 

 toward the head end of the straw. Eupelmus allyni proves an efifective natural 

 check to this pest, the parasitism being noticed in all examinations made. As but 

 about 5 per cent, of the straw worm flies have wings, the pest does not spread rap- 

 idly, and local efforts in fighting it, by burning old stacks and stubble containing 

 pupae, in the winter or early spring, are very effective. A bulletin was issued by the 

 department of entomology of the University, in February, this year, calling atten- 

 tion to the presence of this pest in the State, and recommending the burning of old 

 straw stacks and stubble. 



A New Bibio {Bibio tristis n. s.) 



A Bibionid fly appeared in large numbers in many Kansas wheat fields during 

 the last week of April, this year. It was reported from seven western counties, viz., 

 Geary, Saline, Lincoln, Ellsworth, Pratt, Rice, and Smith. Farmers in these counties 

 were alarmed by the presence of swarms of these flies, though in no case was any 

 special damage apparent in infested fields. The larvfe of the flies were found in 

 large numbers in the soil of a Pratt county field on February 10. Some larvse were 

 found also in hotbeds in which various flowers were growing. Adults were first re- 

 ported on April 17, and from then constantly until the end of the first week in May. 

 A correspondent in Lincoln county noted that pupation began about April 20, the 

 adult flies appearing by April 27. 



The flies were very abundant wherever present, but no injury to the wheat could 

 l>e positively traced to them. The fields most badly infested gave no signs of un- 

 usual injury. The larvie of the Bibionid family are known to feed on the roots of 

 various plants. The flies disappeared suddenly and simultaneously. With the Bibios, 

 several Anthomyid species appeared in lesser numbers. Sciara sp. (?) was sent in 

 from several fields with the Bibios. 



