258 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



Two adult flies issued on May 10, and proved to be specimens of Chlo- 

 rops proxima, described many years ago by Say from specimens collected 

 in Indiana. So far as can be ascertained, the habits of this fly have not 

 been recorded, though they might well have been suspected from the 

 habits of allied known species. In his second Isew York report. Dr. 

 Fitch described eight species belonging to the same family {(kcimdae)^ 

 and stated that he had found them in abundance by sweeping the wheat 

 tdth a net. In Europe closely allied flies have ahvays been among the 

 most prominent enemies of the grain crops. As long ago as 1750 Lin- 

 naeus estimated that the damage done by Chlorops frit to the barley 

 crop in Sweden amounted to one hundred thousand golden ducats (half 

 a million of dollars) annually. 



The species under consideration was called proxima by Say on account 

 of its very close relationship with the destructive Chlorops lineata* of 

 Europe, the only distinguishing mark of importance being that the back 

 of the abdomen in the American specimens is .yellowish, while in the 

 European individuals it is pale greenish black. The ravages of C. Uneafa 

 with those of other allied insects in France w ere the occasion of the ap- 

 pointment of M. Olivier by the Society of Agriculture in 1812 to investi- 

 gate their habits, M. Olivier was followed in this work by M. Au- 

 douin, Herpin, and GueriQ-^Ieneville. As the result of their investiga- 

 tions it was discovered that the adults of C. lineata Avere most abundant 

 in late May or early June, when they paired and the females deposited 

 their eggs^ upon the wheat stems just below the sheaths of the ears, 

 which are then forming. The larvae made small external buiTowsdown 

 to the first joint, which never reached tlie heart of the stems, but which 

 deformed the heads. Upon reaching the lirst joint the larvae had at- 

 tained full growth and traiisfornied at the ends of tlieir burrows. In 

 September the adults again made their aiipearance and, after living 

 many weeks, coupled and deposited their eggs ui)on the rye and corn 

 quite recently sown, the larvae feeding upon and deforming the central 

 shoot, living between the stem and the sheath. The remedies advised 

 were, first, hand picking, pulbng up and destroying the infested plants; 

 only practicable upon a very smail scale ; second, rotation of crops. 

 Curtis has advised dusting with soot or lime upon the appearance of the 

 flies in autumn to prevent the deposition of eggs. 



As regards G. proxima, it will ui id] probability be found to be double 

 brooded^ op.e brood ujion winter wlieat and the other upon spring. Its 

 habits and, more particularly, its periods are not well enough known to 

 enable us to suggest a remedy, but it is well worth careful study. 

 Wherever it is found, the date of the appe'iirauce of the flies both in the 

 fall and spring should be carefally noted, as it is possible that late or 

 early sowing would atlect its increase. Tlie colors of larva and pupa 

 have already been given ; the adult is bright yellow with the darker por- 

 portions black. Its body is 4.3""' (.131 inch) long, and the whigs when 

 closed extend for a considerable distance behind. 



The Texas heel fly. — Specimens of a so-called Texas cattle heel 

 fly were received during the winter from JMr. E. K. Carr, of Kerrville, 

 Kerr County, Tex., and proved to be nothing more than the common 

 bot fly of the ox {Hypoderma {Oestrus) bovis Deg.). 



The woolly apple louse {Sehizonvura lanujcru Hausm.)— To the 

 excellent article on this insect by Dr. Cyrus Thomas in his last report 

 (Transactions of the Department of Agriculture of Illinois, 1878, Vol. 

 -SVl, p. 128) we have not much to add. Some few obser\atious, however, 



" Conaiileicil by Guuliii tobesviionjuioiis with Lhhvops lacnio^yunot' Ciirlia, C. Uiisula 

 Meigen, and C. glabra Weatwood. 



