146 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



in northwestern Vermont in 1820. It did not become very 

 destructive, however, until 1828, from which time until 1835 

 is kept increasing in such numbers as to cause the abandonment 

 of the wheat crops in some localities throughout northern New 

 England. Serious damage was reported as due to this pest 

 every few years until about 1860, being most severe in 1854, in 

 which year Dr. Fitch estimated the loss in New York alone at 

 $15,000,000, and in 1857, and 1858. Since then no widespread 

 injury has occurred, though local outbreaks are frequent, and 



FIG. 106. Wheat-midge (Diplosis tritici): a, female fly; 6, male fly; c, larva 

 from below. (After Marlatt, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



it has spread south to the Gulf States and westward to Iowa, 

 Minnesota, and Arkansas. 



Life History. The adult flies are small, two-winged insects, 

 about an eighth of an inch long, of a yellow or orange color. 

 They appear about the middle of June and lay the eggs " in a 

 small cavity at the summit of, and formed by a groove in, the 

 outmost chaff covering the incipient kernel." They hatch in 

 about a week, according to Dr. Fitch, and the maggots burrow 

 into the forming kernels. The maggots are of a reddish color, 

 and when an ear is badly infested give it a reddish tinge, on 

 account of w r hich the- insect is often called the " red weevil." 



