B. C. ENTOMOLOGICAL PROCEEDINGS, llUl. 23 



firadually led to belie\e tliat in several \ ital ways the habits of the insect 

 differed in British Columbia from its habits in Holland. 



The perfect Hy is seen from the end of March to the beijinninL; of 

 September, but practically all the harm done is in the month of May, 

 as the hot sun, so essential to insect life, is during that month tempered 

 by a dampness, which keeps the Narcissus leaves fresh and succulent. 



Their activit\- is naturally greatest in the hottest part of the day, 

 from 12 o'clock till about 2:30 or .\ and in badly affected areas their 

 peculiar hum at such a time is sufficient to attract the attention of the 

 uninitiated. 



At this period the H\ mo\es in the air with a spasmodic, lateral 

 movement, is ver> restless when disturbed, and alights \ery lightlv some 

 distance off. 



May being the month that the Narcissus Fl\ is most common and 

 vigorous, this is the time it is seen in copula, when in this condition it 

 seeks bj' preference a high growing object, such as a tree, bush or even 

 a high growing weed. A hedge is a very favorite spot, and b\ going 

 around the hedges or fences with a flat board or card it is possible to 

 kill any quantity in such a position, as naturall\' they are slow on the 

 wing when coupled, and disinclined to move \ery far. 



The perfect fly is easil}" drowned, and, unlike nearly all other flies, 

 positively helpless in the water (I ha\e proved this by experiment), 

 which is a point worth noting. 



The breeding season seems more clearl\ defined than an\' other 

 stage. This is probably due to the short life of the perfect insect. 



I believe the insect lays its eggs in the centre of the crown of leaves 

 by means of a long o\ipositor, the grub in due time hatches out, and 

 enters the bulb. 



How it affects an entry is a disputed point, as although it would 

 appear that the easiest way would be into the heart under the crown 

 of leaves, there is no proof that this is so, and I have never found a trail 

 that way. 



The insect is poisonous to the narcissus, and sets up a rust ( which 

 is one of the ways to detect its presence), and there is never an\ mark 

 in the top half of the bulb. Therefore, the onl\ conclusion is that it 

 must enter from the base and work upwards. 



This seems difficult to understand, as one would think that the 

 minute grub would have difficulty in making a passage through the 

 earth to the base of the bulb. 



The grub takes about six months to feed, from the time of its entry 

 into the bulb, and then lies dormant till the turn of the year, or about 

 February-, when it vacates the bulb, and changes into pupa state, about 



