PRIZE ESSAY : 



6POTTED-WI1TGED WHBAT MIDGE MAGNIFIED. 



(C. cereales. Fitch.) 



Magnified wing 

 ofC. cerealis. Wheat Midge at 

 rest, with its 

 wings in their 

 natural joosi- 



tion, -magnified. 



ance, and can only be distinguished from each other by their 

 wings when in their perfect state, it will be more convenient to 

 designate them collectively as the WHEAT-MIDGE, and only in 

 cases where technical accuracy and precision is required, is it 

 worth while to discriminate them by the names " spotted winged 

 wheat midge," (C. cerealis,) and " clear winged wheat midge," 

 (C. Tritici.) 



HABITS OF THE WHEAT MIDGE. 



149. In Canada the wheat midge appears during, the latter 

 part of June, and remains until the middle of August. (D It 

 prefers low and sheltered places, being always found in greater 

 abundance in vallies than on hills, under the lea of fences, or the 

 forest rather than the open field. It is most active at sunset, 

 and during the day may be found lurking among the lower leaves 

 of the plant, and especially among the weeds which are frequently 

 suffered to grow in profusion among our crops. At twilight and 

 during the night it is chiefly occupied in depositing its eggs. It 

 does not confine its attacks to wheat but infests the ears of various 



(1) The precise time varying by a few days with flowering of wheat. 



