1905 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 131 



Garden Insects. 



The Seed-Corn Maggot (Phorbia fusciceps, Zett), Fig. 71. The work 

 of this maggot on planted corn seed was brought to our attention about the 

 third week in June, at St. Anne de Bellevue on the Island of Montreal. In 

 a field recently planted many of the seeds sprouted very slowly, while others 

 failed to sprout at all. On examination of the planted seeds many of them 

 showed the presence of the Seed-corn Maggot. From the seeds that had not 

 sprouted the maggots had hollowed out large cavities and had destroyed the 

 embryos. In other seeds the cavities were smaller, and sometimes the 

 embryo had escaped injury, with the result, however, that the germs were 

 weak and made but little growth. 



The seeds were planted at a time when the soil was cold and damp and 

 for over a week the weather remained cold and wet, with the result that 

 incipient decay set in, and the adult flies were^ attracted to the decomposed 

 matter as a suitable place for oviposition. 



It may be stated here that the stand of corn was a large one in spite of 

 the number of injured seeds. After a dressing of soda nitrate had been given 

 to the land, the crop developed well with returning warm weather, and a 

 fine yield was obtained at the close of the year. 



In 1900 I called attention to a destructive outbreak of similar maggots 

 on beans in Lambton County. It is probable that the maggots in this case 

 belong to the same species as those observed at St. Anne's. 



The life-history of this insect is not well known. The adult is a two- 

 winged fly about the size of a small housefly. Dr. Chittenden of Washing- 

 ton says it can best be identified by the male, which possesses a row of short, 

 rigid, bristly hairs on the inner side of the posterior tibia:-. 



The Seed-Corn Maggot is smaller than the Onion Maggot, being about 

 \ of an inch in length. Dr. Chittenden says: "In the Northern States it 

 is probable that we have at least two generations, the first injurious in May 

 and June to such seedlings as are then to be found, and the second gener- 

 ation feeding upon weeds or dead or dying plants, in excrement and in refuse 

 without their presence being manifested. 



It has been surmised that the species agrees with others of its kind in 

 passing the winter in the adult condition, although it is possible also that 

 it hibernates in some localities at least as a puparium." 



Professor Garman of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station 

 reports that this insect attacks young cabbage plants, in early spring, and 

 hemp plants which are often destroyed over large areas. "The maggots 

 work in the stems, but leave the plants, when rendy to f-upate, and enter 

 the earth for a short distance, changing to yellow pupae .18 inch long and 

 about .06 inch in diameter. Besides hemp and cabbage the insect is 



known as an enemy of planted seed corn, of radishes, onions, and of the 

 common weed, hedge-mustard." Professor Garman calls this insect the 

 Fringed Anthomyian, and places it in the Genus Pegomya. 



The Tarnished Plant bug (Lygns pratensis). Many reports reached us 

 throughout the season regarding the injuries done by this insect to cultivated 

 plants of both the garden and orchard. In the garden it was specially injur- 

 ious, for it pierced and deformed buds and terminal shoots of cabbage, 

 cucumber, and potato, and sucked their juices. Flower gardens and plan- 

 tations of small fruits suffered also, and reports came in of the blighting 

 of strawberry blossoms and young berries, and of the blackening and shrivel- 

 ing of the currants. Besides, these insects attack many weeds and other wild 

 plants. The insects are more numerous, and hence more readily notice- 



