GOUT FLY. 



77 



From this case the Chlorops, or 

 Gout Fly, comes out towards the end 

 of summer, as a small two-winged 

 fly, about the eighth of an inch long, 

 thick and stumpy in shape, yellow, 

 with three black stripes along the 

 back between the wings and the ab- 

 domen of a greenish black, with 

 black cross-bands. The wings when 

 at rest extend beyond the tip of the 

 abdomen. 



The winter attack, as observed in 

 Germany, is from these flies laying 

 their eggs on late-sown Corn or wild 

 Grass. The maggot pierces into the 

 neck of the plant and there winters, 

 and in spring the diseased shoot 

 forms a thickened growth with wide 

 leaves, but the rest of the plant has 

 not been found to be affected. The 

 diseased shoot appears to die away 

 gradually whilst the Gout Fly goes 

 through its changes within, and 

 comes out at the right time to start 

 summer attack, as mentioned above. 



From some slight observations or 

 passing remarks this winter form of 

 attack appears to exist in England, 

 but I am not aware of it having been 

 recorded in detail. 



Prevention and Eemedy. — When 

 the plant shows the diseased forms 

 of growth caused by the maggot it 

 is too late to apply any remedy, and 

 the best hope of prevention lies in 

 date of sowing, or in such treat- 

 ment of the land or position of the 

 crop as will least expose it to attack 

 of the fly, or may help it to push on 

 so as to return some degree of yield 

 even under infestation. 



Early sowing with this as well as 

 with the Frit Fly has been found of 

 service. In observations reported to 

 me by Prof. W. McCracken, from the 

 Eoyal Agricultural College, Ciren- 

 cester, of a Barley-field infested by 

 this Gout Fly, he mentioned : — '* The 



\m 



Plant of Bai'luy diseased by 

 Gout Fly attack. 



