HESSIAN FLY ; WHEAT BUDGE. 89 



The examination of our parasites pointed therefore very 

 strongly to the probability of our Hessian Fly attack having 

 been imported to us from the East of Europe. 



?' Attack imported in foul Corn and spread in infested 

 screenings. — Long and careful investigation of imported 

 straw, at ports on the East of England, gave no reason at all 

 to suppose that it came in straw imports ; but nothing is 

 more likely than that infestation should come by means of so- 

 called " flax-seeds " in foul grain imports ; and the practice of 

 purchasing the screenings of these cargoes, foul with injurious 

 insects, weed-seed, ergot, and any other adulteration that may 

 chance, is a most fertile cause of infestation, both of field and 

 granary, whether Hessian Fly "flax-seeds " be in it or not. * 



Wheat Midge (Red Maggot). Cccidoimjia tritici, Kirby. 



The grub of the Wheat Midge, known as the " Bed Maggot," 

 often does some harm, and at times causes a serious amount 

 of damage to Wheat-crops, by injuring the young grains 

 when forming in the ear, so that many of them never reach 

 maturity. 



In June, when the Wheat is in blossom, the female Midges 

 may be seen laying their eggs, and are noted as being busiest 

 at the work about 8 o'clock in the evening. In the morning 



* Information regarding the Hessian Fly, its habits and history, and means 

 of prevention and remedy, will be found in especial detail in the following 

 works : — 



'The Hessian Fly; its ravages, &c. U.S.A. Department of Agriculture: 

 Third Report of Entomological Commission. Washmgton, 1883. (Eepriuted, 

 with additions and corrections, from Bulletin IV. of the U.S. Entomological 

 Commission. By A. S. Packard, jun., 1880).' 



' Untersuchungen iiber die neue getreide gall-mucke. Von Dr. Balthasar 

 Wagner. Fulda & Hersfeld. 1861.' (English translation will be found in 

 Appendix to 3rd Eeport of Entomological U.S.A. Commission mentioned above, 

 pp. 8—38). 



'Die Hessenfliege [Cecidoimjia destructor, Say), in Russland von Dr. K. 

 Lindeman. Moscow, 1887.' 



In my own pamphlets, ' The Hessian Fly in Great Britain ' (1886), and 

 ' The Hessian Fly in Great Britain in 1887,' and in my Eeports on 

 Injurious Insects (Messrs Simpkiu & Co.) I have recorded its first appearance in 

 this country, with descriptions and identifications, and notes of habits, &c. 



Also, as on the appearance of this tly, the Cecidoimjia destructor, in Great 

 Britain, the observations of the attack, with enquiries and specimens, were for- 

 warded to myself and identified first by myself, I have carefully preserved 

 in one large volume the communications received announcing its first aj^pear- 

 ance, the confirmation of my identifications by Prof. J. O. Westwood (Life 

 President of our British Entomological Society) and by the Canadian olUcial 

 Entomologist, and other observations as to habits, amount of injury, &c., which 

 are valuable as first observations of an attack, previously not only unrecorded as 

 present here, but also sj)ecially watched for and recorded at intervals as not 

 being found in this country. — (I]. A. 0.). 



