51 
An energetic enemy of the seed-midge is the common flower-bug, 
(Triphlcps iusidiosus Say), as was found some years ago by Dr. 
Forbes. I have repeatedly found a nymph or an adult of this bug with 
its beak thrust into a seed-midge larva or fly. 
Control. — It is by no means necessary to abandon temporarily the 
raising of clover seed on account of this insect, as was once proposed. 
The most efi'ective and most practicable preventive is that given by 
Comstock, namely, to cut the first crop of clover as early as possible, 
in order to secure a good seed crop at the expense of a shght reduction 
in the hay crop. The good results of this method are frequently ob- 
tained, unconsciously, by farmers who make it a rule to cut their clover 
near the 17th of June. The writer was once sent by our State Ento- 
mologist to examine injured clover on the farm of A. E. Myers, at 
Millbrook, 111. (Kendall Co.). At that place, August 19, 1903, there 
were twenty acres of red clover in full bloom, with the heads well filled 
with sound seed, with few green heads, and with almost no sign of the 
seed-midge ; no eggs were found and only two midges were seen dur- 
ing an extensive search. This clover had been cut a few days before 
June 25. Across the road was another field of red clover, similar in 
history to the first except that it had not been cut until between July 
4 and 10. Here none of the clover was in bloom, all the heads were 
green, and almost every head was loaded with eggs of the seed-midge ; 
often there were more eggs in a head than there were florets. The 
flies were abundant also, and were still ovipositing. In this instance, 
a difference of two weeks in the time of cutting meant all the diflFerence 
between almost complete immunity and heavy infestation. 
Early cutting (1) results in the drying up of the food plant and 
the undeveloped larva, and (2) hastens the development of the second 
lot of clover heads, so that the midges of the second generation find 
but few green heads in which to lay their eggs. 
The proper date for early cutting depends, of course, on latitude, 
weather, and other considerations. It should be not later than June 17 
in central Illinois, and need not be earlier than June 7. Clover that is 
cut too green does not cure well, but the cutting need not be done until 
the field as a whole is fresh with bloom, tho it should not be delayed 
until the flowers have withered. A clover head half red and half 
green means that the seed-midge is present (or else the seed-cater- 
pillar), and the grower who will take the trouble to study the habits of 
the midge will be able to cut his clover at just the right time to get rid 
of the seed-midge without losing much of his hay crop. 
Similar results may be had by mowing back the clover as early as 
the middle of May, in Illinois and Ohio. This delays the heading 
enough to escape the second brood of flies. 
Pasturing in spring and early summer exterminates the midge and 
yet insures a good crop of seed, so far as this insect is concerned. This 
method, as recommended by Dr. Fletcher, has been adopted with great 
success in Ontario, Can. There the first crop is pastured to cattle or 
sheep until the beginning of June but not later than the middle of that 
