THE FRIT-FLY. 9 



noticed by anyone. Since the infested culms were left upon 

 the fields the resulting winged insects were not destroyed, 

 hence they issued during the spring of 1892 and greatly ex- 

 tended their domain. The very causes that killed off the 

 armies of young migratory locusts, i. e. excessive moisture, 

 protected this new pest. 



"From the rather few facts which we possess in regard 

 to this insect in Minnesota one very important conclusion 

 may be reached. As the insects hibernate in the culms of 

 wheat in stubble fields, and very likely remain in that con- 

 dition until spring, simple remedies are available and can 

 readily be applied. All that is necessary to kill the great 

 majority of these insects is to destroy the stubble at this 

 time of the year, or as soon as possible after harvest. Two 

 methods are feasible: burning the stubble, or plowing it 

 undtr. Burning can be practiced in some few cases, but in 

 many fields there is not sufficient material to do it thorough- 

 ly. Plowing, therefore, is our best remedy, and no field 

 should be left unplowed that contains such insects, or is 

 suspected of containing them. A very superficial inspection 

 of the fields will show the whereabouts of these insects, if 

 the owner has not already detected the broken culms or 

 heads. By splitting with a knife the joint just below the 

 broken culm the dark puparium will be readily seen. Or if 

 not, the discolored interior of the culm above w^ill indicate 

 its presence, and closer inspection will reveal the culprit. 

 All fields that contain infested straw should be plowed, and 

 this as soon as possible to make sure of the destruction of 

 these insects; the rest of the fields can be plowed later. In 

 doing this we shall be sure of one thing: the insects, al- 

 though well protected against moisture, will come in lasting 

 contact with the moist soil, the broken tube above will be 

 filled with earth, and the fly can not escape the next spring to 

 carry destruction near and far. 



"The damage caused by this insect in 1892 was by no 

 means small. In many places fully one-fourth of the entire 

 crop of wheat was destroyed, and in a great many more the 

 losses amounted at least to one tenth. As many places are 

 badly infested, the total amount is quite large, and if no 



