44 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1907. 



The following brief account of the life-history is repeated from my 

 First Report, p. 10 : 



It makes its appearance in the early spring and lays its eggs upon 

 the carrot roots just below the ground, upon hatching out the larva, 

 which is nearly a quarter of an inch long, without legs, and yellowish 

 in colour, with the anterior end pointed, makes its way into the lower 

 part of the carrot, and then commences working upwards, making 

 passages in all directions. Leaving the carrot it goes into the earth and 

 pupates. The last generation remains in the pupal stage until the 

 following spring. 



From the different accounts which have been given of the life- 

 history, it is evident that there is much variation and great irregularity 

 in the development. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



When the plants are singled the soil should be closely pressed 

 around the root, so as to prevent the flies depositing their eggs there. 

 Heavy watering has also been recommended for the same purpose. 



Sand or ashes saturated with paraffin, scattered over the young 

 plants, tends to keep the flies off them. Watering with paraffin and 

 water, i gill of the former to i gallon of the latter, after thinning has 

 also proved successful. 



A dressing of gas-lime dug into the soil before sowing has answered 

 in many localities, as also strong liquid manure when the flies are first 

 noticed. 



An application of Apterite to the land will probably prove the most 

 effective method of treating this pest. 



THE GOUT FLY. 



Chlorops taeniopus, Meig. 



In Worcestershire and Warwickshire, wheat, barley, and rye, have 

 been badly attacked by " Gout." 



LIFE- HISTORY. 



The long, greenish-white eggs are deposited by the female, early 

 in May, on the sheathing leaves of the developing ear. On hatching 

 out, the larva pierces its way through the leaves, eating into the base of 

 the ear, upon which it feeds. Later, it makes a channel down the stem 

 to the first node or joint, and there pupates beneath the leaves. The 

 fly appears in about twelve or fourteen days. 



There are two broods in a year, the second one laying its eggs 

 upon wild grasses. 



In some of the infected wheat I examined, only a single larva was 

 found in each stem. In others, however, not apparently attacked much 

 more severely, there were two, and in a few cases, three larvae. 



