76 



EGGS DEPOSITED — WHEN. 



As stated before, we can only conjecture a reply to this. From 

 what was found, as stated above, in the examination of the twenty 

 stalks August 20th, it might be inferred that the eggs were deposited 

 in the young wheat in the fall, for in that instance over half of 

 them had already hatched, only one-fifth remaining as live larvae. 

 I am, notwithstanding this, inclined to the opinion that the eggs 

 are not deposited in the fall, but that a certain portion of them 

 pass the winter in the straw, and provide for the continuance of 

 the species the following spring. Drs. Fitch, Harris and others 

 found this the case with the ordinary Joint-worm, and at the same 

 time that a few hatched out in the latter part of summer or fall. 

 I think the character of the past season will account for the great 

 numbers hatching out this year, the summer, as is well known, 

 being very hot and dry. If this be true, there will be less of the 

 worms next season, because of more of them going through their 

 changes after harvest this year. 



Another point favoring the view that the eggs are deposited in 

 the spring, is the fact that an examination of my specimens of straw, 

 made while writing this (November 28th) shows that all that did not 

 hatch during the summer are now live pupae. In this it seems to 

 differ from the Joint- worm, which. Dr. Fitch says, "remains in its 

 cell in the larva state through the winter, and changes to a pupa 

 with the first warm days of spring," for it seems these have changed 

 to pupae preparatory to hibernating. 



Another evidence in favor of the view held may be stated : their 

 position in the stalk. The eggs of the fall brood of Hessian-flies 

 are laid on the blades, and the maggot works its way down to the 

 first or upper joint, this being at the time below the surface of the 

 ground. These worms are found one, two or three joints below this, 

 a point not easily reached by the female to deposit her eggs in the 

 fall, but easily reached after the wheat has begun to grow in the 

 spring. "While I can not say, from actual observation, that the eggs 

 are deposited in the spring, the above facts furnish us pretty strong 

 reasons for thinking they are, and I have no doubt future observa- 

 tion will prove the conjecture correct. It can not be that there are 

 two broods, for no stalks were found prior to July 20th, showing 

 their work that did not also contain the larvae. 



Before closing this part of the subject, I may say that November 

 29th I examined the wheat stubble in the field, and found these 

 insects in the pupa state the same as those in my rearing-jars ; 

 while the regular gall-producing Joint-worms, evidently Isosoma 

 Hordei, were found in the larva state in a clump of rye stalks, as 

 also in a species of rye grass (E'dymus Canadensis). 



THEIR FOOD PLANTS. 



In order that I might learn as much as possible of the habits of 

 this insect, with a view of ascertaining what remedies would be 

 most efficient, a number of species of grass were examined, to see 

 if wheat alone constitutes the food of the worm, or whether our wild 



