THE RASPBERRY GALL MIDGE. 41 



THE RASPBERRY GALL MIDGE. 



Lasioptera rubi, Schrk. 



Two cases of the occurrence of this Gall Midge have been reported 

 upon. The first was found on brambles, but only very few galls were 

 present. 



The second case, and the most interesting, was a bad attack on 

 raspberry canes. Here the galls were numerous and large, the largest 

 measuring over an inch across. The grower informed me that he had 

 noticed a few in the previous year, in consequence of which there \vas 

 little or no fruit during the past season. 



LIFE- HISTORY. 



About the end of May, or early in June, the female fly deposits 

 her eggs, eight to fifteen in number, at the base of the buds. These 

 hatch out in from eight to ten days, and the young larvae at once 

 commence to make their way through the epidermis. After a short 

 time, a distinct swelling appears ; the holes formed by the larvae in 

 the epidermis are closed from within ; and the gall, as it is now termed, 

 commences to thicken. Within the gall the larvae feed, becoming full- 

 fed in the following April. The larvae, like those of many Gall-Midges, 

 are a bright orange colour, or orange with a faint tinge of red. Early 

 in May pupation takes place and the flies appear at the end of May, 

 or early in June. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



Winter spraying with the Vi Fluid will probably penetrate the galls 

 and kill the larvae. 



Spraying the canes with soft soap and soot will prevent the flies 

 depositing their eggs. 



Cutting off the galls and burning the same will of course lessen 

 the pest, but this is a somewhat difficult task on a large area. 



THE ASH CAULIFLOWER GNAT. 



Cecidomyia fraxinella, Meade. 



This minute fly has been particularly plentiful in the Midland 

 counties during the past year, disfiguring young Ash trees. 



It is a small brownish-yellow insect, with black head, and covered 

 with minute hairs. 



Described originally by Dr. Meade (1) as belonging to the genus 

 Diplosis, owing to the characteristic antennae, but resembling Cecidomyia 

 in that the direction of the cubital vein more resembles the condition 

 obtained in this last mentioned genus. This author was of opinion 

 that it was probably the same insect as the one described by Winnertz, 

 under the name of C. mimtta, 2 a view, however, from which I must 



(i.) Entom. Mon. Mag., 1888, vol. 25, p. 77. (2.) Monog. Gallmucken, p. 250. 



