THE ALFALFA GALL MIDGE. 



described in 1880 from the vicinity of Vienna, Anstria. where the 

 species appears to affect alfalfa in precisely the same way as in 

 Arizona and New Mexico. 



THE ADLTLT MIDGE. 



This midge belongs with 

 a group of flies which in- 

 cludes the wheat midge 

 {Contarinm tritici Kirby), 

 the clover midge {Dasy- 

 neiira leguminieola Lintn.) , 

 and the sorghum midge 

 {C ontarinia sorghicola 

 Coq.). The insects are 

 very small and obscurely 

 colored, so that the farmer 

 will hardly be likely to 

 observ^e them. He will, 

 however, have no difficulty 

 in detecting the galled seed 

 pods. During the last 

 year or two a number of 

 complaints have been re- 

 ceived from the Southwest 

 relative to the failure of alfalfa seed to develop. This has been 

 attributed by farmers to a numl^er of insects, none of which is at 

 all likely to be responsible for the injury, while it is quite possible 

 that it mav be due to this gall midge. 



THE PUPA. 



The pupa is shown in figure 5. The dor- 

 sum, or back, is illustrated in figure 5, a, 

 which shows the spines that enable it to work 

 its way through the walls of the galled pod, 

 as described in the preceding translation. 



Fi;. 5.— The alfalfa gall 

 midge: a. Pupa, dorsal 

 view, showing the spines 

 on the back, bj' the aid of 

 which it worlis itself out 

 of the galled pod ; h, ven- 

 tral or under side of relative to tlic j^est. Froiii the notes made bv 



'oH^ginaTr"'' '°'''^'''' ^^r- ^^"^"^ '^"^^ '^l^O ^y ^^^■- ^"ly^h' it ^O"^^^ 



appear that the insect winters in the pods. 

 So far as is now' known its breeding season during summer is rather 

 short, as it has not been noticed earlier than late Afay or later than 

 September, excepting that Mr. Ainslie reared adults, in conlinement, 



Fig. 4. — The alfalfa gall midge : Adult female, with 

 antenna of male above, at left, (ireatly enlarged. 

 t Original, i 



HAUITS OF THE INSECT. 



We have not, up to the present time, been 

 able to secure verv much defiiiilo information 



