FAMILY TIPULID^. J 77 



in the soil ; and that the mature animal is engaged longer in the work of depositing its 

 eggs, than is the hessian-fly. These distinctions must govern our attempts to guard against 

 the attacks of these insects. 



The wheat-fly possesses the following characteristics : Body orange ; wings transparent 

 rounded at the tip, ciliate,or fringed with minute hairs. Female, the antennse are beaded ; 

 joints twelve, whorled with hairs ; eyes black : length about one-tenth of an inch. Males, 

 the antennte with twenty-four joints, globular, and whorled with hair as in the female : 

 size somewhat variable, but less than the female. Its general appearance is that of an 

 orange-colored gnat. 



The first account of this insect was given by Mr. Jewett, in the nineteenth volume of 

 the New-England Farmer, 1820. According to Judge Bue£, it was observed here in 1828. 

 Its first appearance in this country was in the eastern part of the United States : several 

 of the Eastern States, and the Canadian provinces, have been visited by it. The cultivation 

 of wheat was suspended for many years, in consequence of its injurious attacks. 



The time of the appearance of this fly varies according to the situation of the country 

 being in some places early in June, and in others as late as August ; indeed, according to 

 Mr. Harris's Report, as late as the 20th of August. The first half of July, however, is the 

 period when the largest number of eggs is deposited ; a period which, in New-England, 

 would find the spring and winter grains in the best state for receiving their eggs. The 

 insects are active in the morning and evening, and appear in swarms ; but during the day, 

 when the sky is cloudless, they conceal themselves among the grain and grass. After about 

 eight days, the eggs that have been deposited in the heads of the grain are hatched. The 

 maggots are orange-yellow, and, according to the observations of Mrs. Gage of New- 

 Hampshire, they attain their growth in about twelve or fourteen days : they are then 

 about an eighth of an inch in length, but their size is not uniform. Their number is also 

 variable, as many as forty being sometimes found on a single plant, and at other times two 

 or three only. They seem to be influenced by exposure ; for in hilly places, where the 

 grain is exposed to the wind, they are much less numerous than in sheltered spots. 



The injury that wheat sustains from the presence of this fly depends upon its state of 

 forwardness. As the worm is improvided with boring instruments, it is principally during 

 the soft state of the grain that it has the power to do the most hurt. If the egg is deposited 

 80 as to be hatched when the plant is in blossom, it is then capable of inflicting the greatest 

 amount of injury ; for at this time it is supposed to subsist on the pollen, and may there- 

 fore prevent the fertilization of many kernels in the same head ; and then also it obtains 

 the milky fluid that begins to be formed at this period, and is now accessible througli the 

 softness of the skin or epidermis of the grain. But if the time of deposition of the egg is 

 such that it becomes hatched after the plant has flowered, and the kernel has acquired 

 some considerable hardness, the worm is incapable of absorbing nutriment, and perishes 

 for want of food. 



[Agricultural Report — Vol. v.] 23 



