114 [Assembly, 



to believe that in this latitude the species passes the winter in other 

 than the egg state. This will also probal)ly be found true wherever 

 winter wheat is grown. {Third Rejport on the Insects qf Illinois^ 

 p. 53.) • 



A species of aphis, so exceptional in its habits as to continue its 

 feeding and propagation throughout the winter in northern locali- 

 ties, might also surprise us by depositing autumnal eggs, to hatch 

 the same season. 



This grain aphis is a very pernicious species as it feeds on wheat, 

 rye, barley, oats and various kinds of grain and is extremely prolific. 

 Dr. Fitch has shown that " the wingless ones come to maturity in 

 three days. A single one producing four young daily, and these 

 becoming equally prolific when they are three days old, her 

 descendants in twenty days will number upward of two millions 

 and will be increasing at the rate of a million daily." 



Preventives. — We can do nothing of importance to save from 

 destruction a grain crop which is badly infested with this aphis. A 

 field of winter grain, in which its presence to any considerable extent 

 is unmistakably ascertained, should at once be sacrificed by soirie 

 method that would arrest its continued multiplication through the 

 winter, such as heavy salting, application of gas-lime, dragging out 

 the plants, or any other means through which the insect could be 

 deprived ot its food. A deep plowing under of the grain would 

 hardly accomplish this. English writers have recommended dust- 

 ing with lime or soot, and probably some benefit would result from 

 such measures. 



In a communication to the Country Gentleman of November 25, 

 1886 (page 893), Mr. W. A. Stewart, of Denton, Maryland, 

 notes that in a field of rye sown September seventh, which had 

 made a vigorous growth, he discovered many places in it that were 

 turning yellow. Later, upon taking up for the examination of the 

 roots some ot the supposed sunburned plants, he found that the 

 appearance "was caused by millions of parasites" feeding thereon. 



The " parasite " beyond doubt is the grain aphis, and its autumnal 

 presence may be regarded as indicating serious injury from its 

 multiplication the coming year, in accordance with the fear 

 expressed in the communication made by me to the Alhany 

 Evening Journal above referred to. 



