222 



FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



August, wliicli were seriously uffected by some insect depredator, 

 thought by the sender to be the " Southern joint-worm." 



An examination of the specimens sent revealed the ravages of a 

 quite formidable depredator on the wheat, and one which is broadly 

 distributed throughout the country, although thus far it has attracted 

 very little attention. It does not appear to be known to our agricul- 

 turists, and has only, we believe, engaged the study of two of our en- 

 tomological authors. 



Nature of the Attack. 



The heads were entirely destitute of kernels. Within some of the 

 husks, the remains of the blossoms were discoverable, showing that 

 their development had been arrested before the formation of the grain. 

 Upon removing the investing sheath, the stem was found to be dis- 

 colored and shrunken, and quite dry for three or four inches above the 

 joint, and near the joint it was so eaten and shriveled as to be utterly 

 useless for the purpose of conveying the sap. 



The Larval and Pupal Forms. 

 Immediately above the joint, and surrounded by the remains of the 

 'ii stem, larvge were discovered, a single one in each stem 

 (shown at a in Fig. 60), of a watery-green color, elon- 

 I gate, quite tapering toward the terminal end, and sub- 

 cylindrical at the other, and of a length of about one- 

 fourth of an inch (shown in enlargement at b). In 

 some of the stems, larvae had assumed the pupal stage, 

 not very unlike the larva3 in general appearance, but 

 showing the wing-cases, a more acute form at its head, 

 and more rounded at its anal extremity (represented at c). 

 The pupffi were also imbedded within the remains of 

 the stem, at about the distance of half an inch from the 

 joint. 



Fig. 66.— The 

 wlieat-stem mag- 

 got; a, the larva, 

 natural size ; b, 

 larva enlarged ; 

 c; the pupa eu- 

 larsed. 



Time of Appearance of the Fly. 



While examining the stems the day following their re- 

 ception by me, on August5th, two of the mature flies were 

 discovered quietly moving over my table. They had proba- 

 bly emerged en route, and had escaped unnoticed by me from the box in 

 which the plants had been sent. Although Dr. Fitch mentions the 

 occurrence of this fly in wheat fields during the latter part of June, 

 it appears that the first week in August is within its period of appsiri- 

 tioii in the State of New York, and, as indicated by the larva^ still un- 

 changed at that time, the flies will continue to emerge throughout the 

 month of August, and perhaps into September. 



