.^8 Second Repoyf on Economic Zoology, 



This, after the barley was cut, looked very promising all o\ er the 

 field, but since has been gradually going back, andi now there is 

 hardly any on the field of eighteen acres, except in spots and one end 

 where theie is a moderate crop, but none is worth cutting. As far 

 as I can make out the field has not grown clover for six years, and 

 therefore it can hardly be clover-sick. Can you give any idea of the 

 cause of failure, etc." 



To this the following answer was sent with accompanying 

 Report : — 



" The clover has been destroyed by a pest that has been very 

 "prevalent in Kent this year, namely, the Clover Midge {Cecidomyia 

 frifolii). A serious attack occurred near Heme, otliers at Gravesend, 

 Huntingdon, etc. 



" The larva? you send in the tube (small yellow orange maggots) 

 are the culprits. Tliey are of the second brood referred to in the 

 enclosed report. The small gTeen caterpillar sent is not the cause 

 < »f the damage. 



" There is no remedy for such an attack. I should if the crop is 

 worth saving give some stimulating dressing; if it is very badly 

 •damaged it would be best to plough uj) deeply so as to bury the 

 larviB many of which liave now gone to earth — fresh flies will 

 appear and the progeny of these will do damage mentioned in the 

 ireport." 



Clover is frequently attacked by small red maggots, which are to 

 be found in the outer layers of the roots and amongst the tufts of 

 young leaves, often buried deeply in the centre of the leaf tufts, at 

 other times between the two sides of a young bent leaf. 



Tliis insect is not uncommon on clover and vetches, and is known 

 as Cecidomyia trifolii, Fabricius. It may be found on wild species of 

 vetches. The maggots are of all sizes and various tints of orange and 

 yellow and, as in all this group of insects, quite legless. There are 

 two closely related species known also as Clover Midges, viz., 

 Cecidomyia leguminicola and C. lathyri. This Clover Midge can 

 easily be told from them by the shape of the small ventral process 

 imder the head end — the " anchor process." The maggots also attack 

 the lower leaves of the clover, fastening them together and forming 

 really galled structures in which the larva? change to pupse. There 

 are evidently two broods in the year, the larvse found now hatching 

 in the summei', and the flies of this generation seem to lay their eggs 

 on the clover leaves generally, and galled structures are formed by 

 them. Tlie second brood live on the decaying roots and in the 

 growing tuft of the clover and seem to cause its decay. 



