TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 865 
changed, but more invaginated, and on the second segment, immediately below the 
mouth, is the much-misunderstood ‘anchor-process,’ which has been described by 
our English authors as assisting the larva in obtaining its food—a most extra- 
ordinary error. Anyone taking the trouble to examine a feeding larva will see 
that the anchor-process is not present, it not being required during that stage. 
The author has proved by the most careful observations that the use of this 
wonderful anchor-process is to assist the larva in its third stage to reverse its 
position, so that when the insect is matured the fly can emerge; a thing impossible 
_ for it to do did it remain in the original position occupied by the feeding larva. 
This reversing of position does not take place until about two weeks before the fly 
is fully matured. The anchor-process is really a most exquisitely formed bifid 
_ lever, with which the larva gradually works its way round within the puparium ; 
when this is effected the change to the pupa state soon takes place, the insect 
emerging in two weeks. The pupa bears a very close resemblance in its details to 
that of the Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda). 
Numbers of Hessian Flies emerge in September and lay their eggs upon the 
self-sown barley and wheat, and where a field has been sown with clover there is 
always plenty of cover for the flies, and aftergrowth, upon which they quickly 
oviposit, the larvee feeding up and changing to puparia before winter, the flies 
emerging before the clover is cut, and ready to injure the growing crops. Large 
numbers of puparia are always left in the stubble. 
Many remedies have been tried in America for the purpose of checking the 
ravages of this ‘pest, but with very small success. The author does not think 
that anything can be done except by taking advantage of Nature’s own remedy, viz. 
the parasites, of which there are several species. 
Not a very long time ago he wrote to the ‘Mark Lane Express,’ suggesting the 
desirability and great importance of collecting and preserving the infested wheat 
and barley for the purpose of breeding the parasites in quantities, and then turning 
them down in infested districts. This proposition was met with the most extra- 
ordinary and unaccountable opposition from a writer who but a short time before 
_ had sung the praises of the parasites, The author still maintains that it zs possible to- 
_ breed these parasites in vast numbers. He has had but little leisure for doing this, 
and yet during the past three years he has bred over two thousand. During last 
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June he was enabled to send over three hundred Seméotellus nigripes to Professor 
C. V. Riley, the State Entomologist at Washington, ard though, owing to the heat 
and confinement during transit, they did not arrive so as to be of service, he expects. 
to be able to introduce some thousands of this parasite into the United States during 
1891, and anticipates that it, like other insects not indigenous to America, will 
increase and make its presence known and felt. There is one immense satisfaction 
in an endeavour to introduce such an insect into America, viz. every encouragement 
is given there to the study of economic entomology. 
Has not the time arrived when the British Government might vote a few pounds 
a annum for a similar purpose, and so make the ‘ British Gallery ’ at the Natural 
istory Museum, South Kensington, a place where farmers, and others who are 
not farmers, might learn something more than the mere name of an injurious 
insect? The very least that might be done would be that the Museum should 
possess type specimens of injurious insects, and certainly of such parasites as prey 
upon them. It is a lamentable fact that amid the numberless named insects in tha 
oo there is not a single specimen of the American parasites of the Hessian 
ae to those faint-hearted entomologists who assert that such a suggestion con- 
cerning the breeding of parasites in number is not practicable, the author Calls. 
their attention to the U.S.A. report on Mr. Koebele’s journey to Australia in 
search of the ‘natural enemy’ of the orange scale, which he obtained in 
hundreds—sent home, where it was reared in thousands and distributed to the 
almost eaten-out orange-growers, and with the result that the pest has been cleared 
off the face of the country. This enterprise will be a lasting monument to Pro- 
: ae C. V. Riley, who does nor believe in such an expression as ‘It can’t be 
_ done. 
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