size, it is git first white and afterwards ureenish white, clouded inter- 

 nally by flaky white. 



The flaxseed (tig. 6). — This is the name given to the insect after the 

 larva has reached its full growth and the skin has hardened and turnrd 

 brown, forming a covering known as a puparium. There 

 is at this time a minute, brown, forked process on the 

 underside of the anterior end of the larva, known as the 

 '•breastbone" (tig. 5), the use of which is not full}' under- 

 stood. It is not present, however, until the larva enters 

 Sthe flaxseed state. Within this "flaxseed" 

 it transforms flrst to a pupa (flg. 7), and from 

 this to an adult fl}'. The term "flaxseed" 

 is api)lied partly because of its brown color 

 and partly because it is more or less flat- 

 tened, thus giving it somewhat the appear- 

 ance of a flaxseed. 



WIfERE TO FIND THE DIFFERENT STAGES. 



Fig. 6.— The Hessian 

 fly ; Larva taken 

 from "flaxseed," 

 much enlarged, 

 with "breast- 

 bone" still more 

 enlarged 'at right 

 (original). 



Fig. 4.— Till 

 Hessian fly 

 Larva be 

 fore " flax 

 seed 

 for m e d , 

 much en- 

 larged (orig 

 inal). 



IS 



From the foregoing descriptions it will 

 be observed that, during the life of this 

 insect, it is found in four very difl'erent forms, so 

 entirely unlike in appearance as to confuse the average 

 farmer. 



The eggs (flg. 3), which may be easily seen by one 

 with fairly good eyesight, are generalh' placed in the 

 grooves of the upper surface of the leaves, though they are occa- 

 sionally found on the underside of the leaf. When the 

 young wheat plant is just pushing through the ground, 

 the ("gg is sometimes placed on the outside, 

 because no leaves are available. The young- 

 larva is slightly smaller than the Qgg^ and 

 as soon as it is hatched it makes its waA' 

 down the leaf and behind the sheath. In case 

 of young wheat it descends to just above the 

 root, but after the plants have begun to joint it 

 can go no farther than the liase of the sheath 

 belonging to that particular leaf, which is al- 

 ways at the joint. Where excessively al)un- 

 dant, the larva> will frequently ])e found on the 

 lower stem ranged one behind the other, the 

 anterior end of one })usiied slightlv under the posterior 

 end of the one in atlvance. Very often this position is 

 maintained throughout the entire development of the 

 larva (flgs. 4 and .5), and the flaxseeds (flgs. 6 and 10) 

 still retain the same relative ])<)sition. The fall brood of larv.e and 

 the overwintering flaxseeds arc to be found just above the roots (tig. 10), 



Fig. 7.— The Hes- 

 sian fly: Pupa 

 taken from 

 " flaxseed," 

 greatly en- 

 larged (after 

 Marlatt). 



Fic tj.— The 

 Hessian fly; 

 Puparium 

 or " fl a X - 

 seed, "much 

 enlarged 

 (original). 



