38 



FLIES. 



The flies of the division of the Diptcra, inckiding^ 

 Gnats (Culicidce) ; and Tijmlidcs, which includes Daddy 

 Longlegs, and also Wheat Midges {Ceddomyue), are 

 mostly of Gnat-like shape, with long legs, and long 

 horns, and their grubs are to be found in the most 

 various localities, some in water, some attacking 

 wheat-blossom, or leaves of plants, some feeding at 

 the roots. 



Tlie Daddy Longlegs, or Crancfly, figured in all stages 

 at p. 36, likes damp surroundings, and thus we get 



Fig. 38. 



-Winter Turnip Gnat : 1 and 2, grub ; 

 natural size and ma'jrnified. 



3 and 4, pupa, 



an idea of how to keep its numbers in check. The- 

 flies frequent damp overshadowed herbage, or marsh- 

 land, or wet, neglected weed-growths, and in such 

 places they lay their eggs. 



The grubs thrive in such places, or at the roots of 

 crops so long as the ground is not too dry for them, 

 and when they have fed for some months they turn to. 

 a pupa (see Fig. 87, p. 36), which, by means of the 

 spikes at its side, sets itself up in the ground conveni- 

 ently for the fly to come out from. 



The best way to forestall attack is to make the land 

 unsuitable for egg-laying. Draining marsh-land, and 

 rough mowing long grass or neglected herbage in 



* The maggot feeds in decaying Turnip-bulbs. 



