INSECT LIFE. 133 



Remedies. Hence a successful method of warring against them 

 has been the burning of plots of grass where they abound. Mr. 

 Walsh, the former eminent entomologist of Illinois, after a long 

 study of this insect, became confident that this is an infallible rem- 

 edy. And of course, where the larvae or worm makes its appear- 

 ance, ditching must be resorted to as in other cases with marching 

 destructive insects. And I have no doubt that our immunity thus 

 far from occasional depredations from this enemy has been the 

 yearly burning of large tracts of the prairies of this State. And 

 just in proportion as this practice is abandoned for other reasons 

 will the dangers from this source multiply. I have received a few 

 letters from different portions of the State complaining about the 

 appearance of 



THE HESSIAN FLY. 



This is no indication that it will become troublesome, and yet, to be 

 forewarned is often to be forearmed. I have had no experience to 

 amount to anything with this insect. 



Habits. But it is said to deposit its eggs in the long slits of wheat, 

 grass, barley and rye blades, etc., both in spring and fall. In from 

 live to twenty days the eggs hatch. The larvae crawl down be- 

 tween the leaf and the stock until they reach a joint, where they 

 rest and suck the sap. They mature in from four to five weeks. 

 The pupa has a striking resemblance to a flax seed, and is found at 

 the same place where the larvae was sucking the sap. In April, 

 May or the first of June, the winged insect appears, and commences 

 egg-laying. 



Remedies. It is also said that large numbers of the pupae are de- 

 stroyed by cleaning off all the stubble by deep plowing, but especi- 

 ally by burning over the fields. Quicklime scattered over the fields 

 after harvest has also been relied on in some places in the east as a 

 remedial agent. Strewing the fields in April and May with wood 

 ashes has also been found efficacious. 



The larvae of the wheat midge \Diplasis destructor] has also been 

 sent to me this season, but to what extent it prevails in the State I 

 am unable to say. 



FRUIT DESTROYERS. 



I have observed no indications of any special increase in the 

 species that prey on orchards and groves, except in the case 

 of plant-lice, which have been abundant for several years 

 past. It is well known that the species are exceedingly abundant, ; 



