182 TURNIP. 



very small as uot to be observable without strong magnifiers, nor 

 armed with strong mandibles. The shape is somewhat oval or 

 parallel- sided, lessening to the head and tail end. The length three- 

 quarters of a line or slightly more ; colour milk-white with a yellow 

 food-canal; the surface has the appearance of being granulated, and 

 the hinder edge of the penultim(ttf riug is edged with bristly hairs. 



The anchor process — that is, the small somewhat anchor-like organ 

 present in Ceddomyia larvae, placed beneath the body near the head 

 end — was unusually difficult to find; but on long investigation I found 

 the stem (by the end of which it is attached to the larva) was parallel- 

 sided for about three-fifths of its length, and then swelled out, the free 

 extremity being about twice the wadth of the stem, flattened at the 

 end, and slujhthj notched. 



These maggots (it is noted by Dr. J. Eitzema Bos) "are to be 

 found in the last half of May and in June in Kape-pods, and may be 

 found in great numbers even up to forty or fifty in one pod, where 

 they suck the unripe seeds to such an extent as to destroy them before 

 the time of ripening. The pods swell at the maggot-infested spots, 

 and ripen and wither also earlier than those which are uninfested, and 

 burst open, and the larvae fall to the ground, where they change to 

 pupal state. In about ten days a swarm of little Gnat Midges make 

 their appearance, and these again lay eggs in the pods, which are to 

 be found at the upper part of the stalks of Eape or other cruciferous 

 plants." * 



The perfect insect or Gnat Midge of Cfcidowyia brassicce is gnat-like 

 in shape, but very small, rather less than the twelfth of an inch in 

 length, with head and back of thorax dark or black with silvery hair ; 

 the abdomen fliesh-coloured, usually with brown or black bands. Legs 

 black, silver white beneath, turning lighter after death. Wings trans- 

 parent flesh-colour at the base, very brightly iridescent ; the fore edge 

 black, as also the veins ; and the first long vein very near the edge.-i 



This species turns black after death, and though it appeared to me 

 that the specimens sent me might be presumed to be of this species, I 

 could not be absolutely certain ; still, judging also from the similarity 

 of the larvae, and the habits, including some of the additional points 

 in these reported as above by Mr. Sim in his observations of the past 

 season, it seems to be scarcely open to doubt that it is Cecidomyia 

 brassica, Winnertz. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — As yet we do not seem to have know- 

 ledge of any practicable preventive or remedial measures, but yet there 



* ' Tierische Schadlinge und Niitzlinge,' von J. Eitzema Bos, p. 588. 



t For full description of perfect insect see ' Fauna Austriaca : Die Fliegen 

 (Diptera),' Schiner, vol. ii. p. 374 ; and also ' Praktische Insektenkunde,' Taschen- 

 berg, pt. iv. p. 8. 



