THE CHALCIS-FLY IN ALFALFA SEED, 3 
FLIGHT. 
The adults of the chalcis-fly are very active in their flight and 
without doubt are carried long distances by the strong summer winds. 
They have been observed in great numbers carried by the winds 
on a hot summer day, alighting on almost any object in their course. 
HIBERNATION. 
The chalcis-fly hibernates in the larval stage within alfalfa seeds. 
By far the greater number may be found in the seeds on neglected 
fields (fig. 9) and along fence lines and ditch banks (figs. 6, 7). A 
great many seed pods may be found on the surface of fields from 
which the seed crops 
have been removed, 
and especially along 
the check ridges where 
alfalfa frequently re- 
mains standing. 
Screenings around the 
alfalfa straw stacks 
(fig. 8) and the seed 
of bur clover‘! conceal 
many of the larve. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
In Circular .69,? Mr. 
F. M. Webster shows 
the distribution of the 
alfalfa-seed chalcis as 
probably covering the 
entire United States. Fic. 2.—Alfalfa seeds which have been hollowed out by the larvze and 
The writer has per- from which the adult chalcis-flies have emerged. (Original.) 
sonally observed its destructive work in clover or alfalfa seeds from 
the Gulf coast to the northern limits of the United States, as well 
as in the southwestern States. Injury from this insect has been ob- 
served in cultivated alfalfa seed imported from Germany, Turkestan, 
and Chile, and in both the cultivated and uncultivated varieties 
of alfalfa seed from Turkey and Siberia. 
CHARACTER OF INJURY. 
The clover-seed chalcis-fly confines its work entirely to the seeds 
of clover, bur clover,' and alfalfa. Its destructive work results in the 
hollowing out of large portions of the seeds while still soft and green 
1Scientific name, Medicago hispida. 
2 Webster, F. M. Some insects affecting the production of red clover seed. U.S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. 
Circ. 69, pp. 9, figs. 8, Apr. 12, 1906. 
