io REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1903. 



The Celery Stem Fly. 



Propliila apii, Westwood. 



Numerous specimens of celery plants have been sent me very 

 badly damaged by this fly. As yet its life-history is not fully known. 

 The fly makes its appearance in May, and in all probability there 

 are a series of broods during the year. The larvae eat their way 

 into the solid part of the stem, and into the leaf stalks. The worm 

 eaten passages are clearly discernable, and turn a rusty-red colour. 



PREVENTATIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 

 As in the case of the Celery Leaf Miner. 



The Onion Fly. 



Anthomyia ceparum, Bouche. 



A very badly infested crop of onions in Staffordshire was reported 

 in July. Practically the whole of the crop was destroyed. The 

 ground has since been deeply trenched and treated with gas-lime. 

 Planting the onions in shallow trenches, and,'as the plants grow, 

 gradually earthing them up, in order to prevent the fly from deposit- 

 ing her eggs near the base of the leaf, has been recommended as 

 a good plan. 



The Beet OP Mangold Fly. 



Pegomyia betae, Curtis. 



The larvae of this destructive fly were received from a correspondent 

 near Banbury, Oxford, in June, also leaves with the eggs in groups 

 of twos and threes on the under surface. 



In the case of those plants badly attacked and exhibiting 

 blisters, they were pulled up and burnt, also many leaves. The 

 crop was then sprayed with i gallon of parafin and -J Ib. of soft- 

 soap, well mixed in io gallons of water. 



Top-dressing with nitrate of soda and common salt is also 

 recommended as forcing on the plants. The quantities per acre 

 are from i to i cwt. of nitrate of soda and 2 to 3 cwt, of salt. 



The Carrot Rust-Fly. 



Psila rosa (Fabr.). 



As in 1899, the carrot rust-fly, has been very much in evidence in 

 the Midlands during the past year, and this in spite of the very wet 

 season. 



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 in the earth until the following spring. 



