REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 161 
and commented upon by Dr Fitch in 1854. It is only in later years, 
however, that the maggot of another species of fly was detected injuring 
the fruit of these plants in a very similar manner, and it is possible that 
its work in earlier years was confounded with that of the gooseberry 
midge. 
Operations in New York state. The work of this insect was first 
brought to the notice of Dr Lintner by Mrs H. D. Graves, of Ausable 
Forks, N. Y., in May 1890, when the trouble was so serious in her 
locality that some neighbors destroyed their currant bushes on account 
of the numerous maggots infesting the fruit. Both the white and red 
varieties were attacked. Again,in 1894, Mr J. G. Collett, of Camden, 
N. Y., wrote that nearly all of his gooseberries fell off every year before 
they were fully matured, owing to the presence of ‘a small white worm 
or maggot just under the skin.’ This attack could be referred to no 
other than the above-named species. With such a record in the two 
places where this insect has established itself in this state, it bids fair to 
be as serious an enemy to the currant and gooseberry as is the closely 
related apple maggot, Zryfeta pomonella, to the apple. Its injuries in 
other localities where it has been found are so great that it may well be 
classed as a dangerous insect pest. 
Distribution. This insect has been recorded from but a few widely 
separated localities, and is most probably a native form. It was origi- 
nally described from Maine or Canada. Prof. Gillette found it abundant 
in Colorado; it was sent to the U.S. Department of agriculture from 
West Ferndale, Wash.; it has been reported recently as abundant in 
that state and Dr Fletcher has long known of injuries to black cur- 
rants in British Columbia by what is most probably this insect. In New 
York state it has been very abundant in two localities distant from each 
other and may be more generally distributed throughout the state than 
is supposed. 
Life history. The following account of the life history and habits of 
this fly is a résumé of the detailed paper on it by Prof. Harvey (see cita- 
tion), which should be consulted for farther information. The flies 
were first observed by him in nature about June 1, though punctures 
on the fruit at that time indicated an earlier appearance. There is but one 
generation annually. The imagoes were most abundant June 9-15, 
all having disappeared by the 25th. The eggs are deposited singly, the 
female requiring about five minutes for the insertion of each just beneath 
the skin of the fruit, where they may easily be seen a little to one side of 
