THE HESSIAN FLY. 41 



then in occupation of Staten Island, received large reinforcements 

 of Hessians under General de Heister. This idea has heen ridi- 

 culed by many European entomologists, who have asserted that 

 the insect is strictly American. It appears, however, that its 

 existence has long been established and known in France, Ger- 

 many, Switzerland and some of the larger Islands of the Medi- 

 terranean ; probably for more than a century it has attracted at- 

 tention in those countries, although the extent of its ravages 

 may not have been known and consequently not recorded. U) 



68. This insect was first noticed in America in Long Island in 

 the year 17/0, or 80 years ago. It proceeded inland at the rate 

 of fifteen or twenty miles a year, and in 1 789 it had reached 200 

 miles from its original station. ( 2 ) It is now found as far west as 

 Iowa and Minnesota, following the cultivation of wheat, wherever 

 that cereal is introduced in the westward progress of settlement 

 on this continent. The Southern States have suffered greatly 

 from its ravages, and it seems to adapt itself without any diffi- 

 culty to all the climates which admit of the cultivation of its 

 favourite food. 



69. In a communication with which the writer of this Essay 

 was favoured by Dr. Fitch, during February of the present year, 

 the following interesting notice occurs of the ravages committed 

 by the Hessian fly in the Provinces of Simbirsk and Saratov in 

 Russia during the year 1852. 



In addition to the evidence I adduce, showing the Hessian fly 

 to be a European insect which has been introduced into this 

 country, I meet with the following in the " Etudes Entomologique" 

 of the Russian naturalist, Motschalsky, page 23 : 



" Cecidomyia funesta, Motsch, voisine de la cec. destructor 



(1) See an article by Mr. Herrick in the 12th vol. of the American Journal of 

 Science and Art. The Essay by Dr. Fitch, trans. N.V.S.A.S., 1846. 



(2) Kirby and Spence. 



D 



