are subject to damage, cabbage, turnip, radish, peas, onions, beets, and 

 seed potatoes being often much affected. This insect, which is generally 

 distributed in the United States, is shown in its different stages in figure 1. 

 It resembles the common house fly. The particularly distinguishing 

 characteristic of the fly is a row of short bristly hairs of nearly equal length 

 on the inside of the posterior tibiae or shanks of the male (fig. 1, a). 

 The length of the wing is about one-fifth and of the body about one- 

 sixth of an inch. There is little doubt that the insect is of P^uropean 

 origin and that it is increasing in destructiveness in this country.^ 



In its earlier stages, also, the seed-corn maggot resembles the house 

 fly. The maggot is footless and cylindrical, presenting in profile the 

 appearance represented at d. It measures about one-fourth inch in 

 length and about 0.04 inch in width. The color varies from nearly 

 white to pale yellowish.'-* The maggot transforms into a puparium (h), 

 barrel-shaped, of elliptical outline, and pale brown in color, measuring 

 about 0.15 inch in length and 0.05 inch in diameter. 



Indications are that there are several generations of this species 

 annually, one developing in the North in June from seedlings, and later 

 ones from roots, dead or dying plants, and other refuse.^ 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



Owing to the difiiculty of destroying root-maggots and other subter- 

 ranean pests and the cost of chemicals for the purpose, growers depend 

 largely upon methods of prevention. To be thoroughly effective these 

 methods should be employed before the insecVs eggs are laid. 



Sand and l-erosene. — A common method for deterring the parent flies 

 from depositing their eggs consists in placing sand soaked in kerosene — 

 a cupful to a bucket of dry sand — at the base of the plants, along the 

 rows. This mixture will also kill young maggots that might attempt to 

 work through it. 



Carholic-acid ewulsion. — For all three forms of root-maggots which 

 we are considering, a carbolized form of kerosene emulsion is effective. 

 This is prepared by adding to 1 iiound of soaj) boiled in 1 gallon of 

 water, one-half gallon of crude (carbolic acid, and diluting th(! whole 

 with from 85 to 50 parts of water.' This mixture is applied about the 

 stalkh^ of the plants affected. It is l)est to use it a day or two after the 

 plants are up, or are transplanted, and repeat every week or ten days 

 until about the third week in May, in the North. Farther south these 

 applications must be made earlier in the season. 



■A more extended notice is furnished in Bui. .■>.'!, n. s., Div. Ent., pp. 84-!>2. 



-In all material examined there are only 6 or 7 cephalic spiracles (fig. 1, ^), 

 whereas in the other root-maggots here considered there are 11 or more. 



•'There is evidence that another maggot has been confused with this species. 



••The mixture is effected according to directions furnished in Farmers' Bulletin 

 127, p. 2'2 (]!»0.'] ed.), wliicli will he funiislicd on appliciitioii. 



