214 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



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. 



The Clover-seed Chalcid * 



Evidence accumulates that the shortage of the clover-seed 

 crop may frequently be due to the larva of a little chalcis-fly which 



hollows out the ripen- 

 ing seed, leaving it 

 brown, brittle and 

 hollow, so that the 

 affected hulls are blown 

 away with the chaff in 

 threshing. As there is 

 no evidence of the pest 

 in the appearance of 

 the heads, and as the 

 worst affected seed are 

 thus overlooked 



FIG. 153. The clover-seed chalcis (Bruchophagus 

 funebris): adult female, much enlarged; 

 antenna of male at left, more enlarged. 

 (After Webster, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



ill 



threshing, its work will 

 often evade detection. 



If the seed crop is short it will be well to examine seed for the 



larvae; many of the seed will be found shriveled and misshapen; 



and frequently considerable numbers of the adults will issue from 



the seed soon after threshing. 



* Bruchophagus funebris Howard. Family Chalcidida. 



