INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CLOVER AND ALFALFA 201 



in color, of an oval shape, and about one one-hundredth inch 

 long. Upon hatching the maggot works its way into the open 

 end of a floret, where it sucks the forming seed, and prevents 

 the petals of the floret from expanding, so that although some 

 of the flowers in the head will bloom, the field as a whole does 

 not blossom as usual. The maggot is footless, white to orange- 

 red in color, and about one-tenth inch long when full grown. 

 Upon becoming grown in late June and the first week of July 

 the maggots enter the soil and just below the surface make 

 tough, oval, silken cocoons, in which they pupate. The pupal 

 stage lasts about three weeks or more, and the flies of the second 

 generation appear in Central Illinois in late July and early August, 

 being abundant as the second crop of clover heads appear. The 

 eggs are laid in the clover heads and hatch in about three days, 

 and the second generation of maggots do the worst damage to 

 the seed in late August and early September, in the same manner 

 as did the first generation. They become full grown by frost and 

 either hibernate as full-grown larvae, in which case they pupate 

 early the next spring, or pupate before frost and pass the winter 

 as pupse in the soil. 



Control. Fortunately this pest may be very readily controlled 

 by adapting the methods of harvesting so as to destroy the devel- 

 oping maggots. If clover is grown alone it should be cut early 

 before the maggots have become mature This results in drying, 

 up the food plant and thus destroying the larvae and hastens the 

 development of the second crop of clover heads, so that the midges 

 of the second generation have but few green heads in which to lay 

 their eggs. Cutting need not be done until the field is fairly fresh 

 with bloom, but should not be delayed until the flowers commence 

 to wither. Where timothy and clover are grown together they 

 should be pastured lightly or clipped back in May, which will 

 result in bringing both the first and second blooming after the 

 greatest abundance of the midges. As the midges do not travel 

 far, it would seem advisable to "prevent the sporadic heading of . 

 first-year clover by mowing it back a few weeks after small grains 

 have been harvested, at a time when growth is vigorous, but yet 

 sufficiently early to permit considerable growth before frost sets 

 in. Volunteer clover should always be cut, as it affords a rich 

 nursery for all kinds of clover insects." Folsom. 



