REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQI2 AI 
in excellent condition before sowing. The aim should be to pro- 
duce a growth of firm straw and plants vigorous enough so that if 
attacked they will tiller abundantly and thus prevent a serious 
decrease in yield. Badly drained soil with its accompanying suc- 
culent weak growth appears to be quite favorable to the fly. 
Trap strips. There is no question as to the value of trap strips, 
especially in seasons when the Hessian fly is excessively abundant. 
This pest becomes numerous only when conditions are favorable, 
and it should not be difficult for the well-postea wheat grower to 
anticipate, in considerable measure, the probability of injury and 
to judge as to the desirability of sowing trap strips. These latter 
should be sowed early (approximately August 25th to September 
roth in New York State) so as to attract the flies and induce the 
deposition of eggs before the main crop appears above ground. 
The infested wheat should then be turned under deeply so as to 
prevent the subsequent development of the insects. It is not neces- 
sary to have the trap strip on the sides of the wheat field, though 
such a location is preferable, as the chances of attracting most, if 
not all the flies, are better. 
Burning stubble and chaff. TYhe burning of stubble has been 
recommended by a number of writers, but in New York State at 
least, the common practice of seeding with wheat makes this 1n- 
advisable. Such an objection would not hold in regard to burning 
chaff from the thrashing machine and this might well be done in 
case the wheat is at all infested by the Hessian fly. This measure 
would also prove of service in controlling the allied wheat midge. 
Plowing under stubble. The early plowing under of infested 
stubble before the flies emerge is advisable if it can be done without 
additional expense. 
Destruction of volunteer wheat. This latter is a prolific source 
of breeding in some seasons and should be turned under wherever 
possible before the flies appear. In some instances it might be 
feasible to use a portion of the volunteer wheat as trap strips. 
Rotation of crops. This is excellent agricultural practice and 
should be of service in reducing ravages by the wheat midge, 
especially if care is taken to locate the wheat fields of successive 
years at some distance from each other. 
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 
A detailed account of this insect, with an extended bibliography 
is given in the report of the Entomologist for 1901 (N. Y. State 
Mus. Bul. 53) pages 705-30. The more recent literature has been 
listed by Paul Hayhurst in the Journal of Economic Entomology, 
1909, 2 :231-34. 
