59 



that in the north there is one less brood than there is farther to 

 the south, a condition of affairs entirely possible, as we now know 

 that the Hessian ^y is there largely at least single brooded, but double 

 brooded farther south. In his second annual repoi't as State ento- 

 mologist, pages 6 to 10, Doctor Lugger gives these facts relative to 

 the work of the insect in his State: 



During the summer and early part of the fall numerous letters were received from 

 many parts of the State in which the writers complained about minute worms which 

 infested the stems of wheat just above a joint from 3 to 4 inches above the ground. 

 The specimens received at the same time showed that, as a general rule, the first 

 and second joints of the plant were infested. Some farmers complained that their 

 crop of wheat was thus very materially reduced. The j)lants harboring the worms 

 did not indicate their presence until flowering time, but as soon as the head began 

 to form the stem above the injured joint wilted, turned yellowish, and soon broke 

 down entirely by bending over the infested spot. * * * But when the infested 

 stems were investigated it was found that the worm had weakened them to such an 

 extent that when the head was formed the plant became topheavy and broke down 

 at the weakest point from force of gravity. * * * These heads were either 

 entirely empty or filled with berries more or less shrunken. The bent or partly 

 broken stems were, as a general rule, still adhering to the lower portion of the plant. 

 This bending or breaking had taken place most frequently above a node or joint 

 about 3 inches from the ground. Just below this breakage, and immediately above 

 the joint, the culprits were to be found. In most cases but one puparium, but in 

 a few cases two, three, or even more puparia could be detected. Such a puparium 

 is the contracted and hardened skin of the larva or worm; it is of a glossy, chestnut- 

 brown color, shading to yellowish brown toward the smaller end. If closely 

 inspected it shows faint traces of sutures or segments. * * * These seed-like 

 objects contain at this time (October) whitish larvae or worms, and no pup;e have 

 been detected inside of them up to this date. * * * Judging from the fact that 

 only pupfe [puparia? — F. M. W.] can be found at this lime, it would appear as if 

 this insect hibernates in that stage. This is really the only one in which it could 

 well pass our northern winters, being in that stage well protected by its old and 

 thickened skin and by the stem of the plant. The puparia are inserted in the mate- 

 rial of the upper part of the node, inaccessible to any moisture from the outside, as 

 the stem above does not break off entirely, but simply bends in a more or less acute 

 angle a short distance over them, thus preventing the entrance of water. Yet the 

 culm is sufficiently fractured to permit a free exit of the future fly in spring. * * * 



The damage caused by this insect in 1892 was by no means small. In many 

 places fully one-fourth of the entire crop of wheat was destroyed, and in a great 

 many more the losses amounted to at least one-tenth. As many places are badly 

 infested, the total amount is quite large, and if no steps are taken to prevent it a 

 repetition may become ruinous in 1893. Most farmers plowed their fields in the fall 

 of 1892 or early in 1893, and consequently the losses in the latter year were small, 

 and in 1894 but very few of these insects were to be found. The spring of this year 

 [1896? — F. M. W.] being very wet, prevented extensive plowing, and the insects, 

 not being disturbed or plowed under, again became a pest and caused considerable 

 damage. The name "frit- fly" is a well-deserved one, as Swedish farmers call the 

 worthless grain resulting from the attack of such flies "frits." 



LIFE HISTORY. 



As stated by Doctor Lugger, the life history is still verj^ obscure, and 

 it will require careful study and close observation to secure a knowledge 



