2G3 



bug that lies in the earth and eateth tlie seed, that is somewhat like a 

 maggot, of a white color with a red head, and about the bigness of one's 

 finger, and an inch or an inch and a half long," which in our day we at 

 once recognize as the white grub. For many years these worms were 

 believed to turn to briers. In 1824 Mr. Jacob Cist figured the fungus para- 

 site of these worms, Torruhia ravenelii^ and though he disapproved of 

 the brier theory, he accounted for the presence of the growth by con- 

 sidering it to be the sprouts of corn originating from kernels which had 

 been eaten by the worm.* 



William Wood, who visited this country in 1029 to 1633, stated 

 that the Indians exceeded the English husbandmen in keeping their 

 fields clean of weeds and " undermining worms.'' As early as 1736 Jcdm 

 Bartram complains of his jdums being destroyed by an insect, and, later, 

 states that all stone fruits except the Peach were subject to attack, some 

 kinds of cherries outgrowing it.t 



In a paper read before the Agricultural Society of Bucks County, Pa., 

 July 29, 1822,1 Mr. James Worth calls attention to the following insects 

 affecting wheat : First, a little worm found in the lower part of the 

 stalks of wheat and rye, in spring and fall, and about the joints in 

 June; second, a worm in the straw above the upper joints, which causes 

 the early change of color of the ear, assuming a ripe appearance but 

 producing no grain; third, a species of louse or Aphis which infest 

 grounds and feed ui)on the roots of wheat, corn, young trees, etc., and 

 do immense damage. Under the head of the first there was doubtless 

 a confusion of Isosoma hordei (and possibly tritic% also, as the larvae 

 are described later as being pale yellow with brown six)ts about the 

 mouth) and Meromyza anuricana, and possibly also a species of O.scinis. 

 The second points unerringly to 2feromyza, the larvae being clearly de- 

 scribed in Memoirs of Penn. Agricultural Society, Vol. 1, p. 165, and 

 antedates the discovery and description of the species by Dr. Fitch 

 about thirty-four years. 



According to a notice in the Prairie Farmer, p. 216 of voliune for 

 1845, this insect was reported in Michigan. Of this notice the follow- 

 ing sentence is very significant: ''In one instance nine eggs were found 

 in a single straw, one of which had just hatched." Specimens of in- 

 fested straw were also forwarded to the Country Gentleman from Scipio- 

 ville, X. Y., in 1879, which the sender stated contained eggs, besides 

 larvte and pup?e. 



Xow, the eggs of any of the insects known to aflfect this portion of the 

 stem of the wheat plant, are by far too minute to be noticed by the un- 

 skilled observer. As we have elsewhere shown, § the larvte of Meromyza 

 are attacked by a sjiecies of mite, Heteropus ventricosiiSj the gravid 



^American Journal of Science, Vol. 8, pp. 269-271, PI. 4. 

 t The Cultivator. New Series. Vol. 7, p. 269. 

 } American Farmer, Vol. 4, p. 394. 

 ^S Rep. Comm. Agr., 1884, p. 390. 



