REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I912 4 1 



in excellent condition before sowing. The aim should be to pro- 

 duce a growth of firm straw and plants vigorous enough so that if 

 attacked they will tiller abundantly and thus prevent a serious 

 decrease in yield. Badly drained soil with its accompanying suc- 

 culent weak growth appears to be quite favorable to the fly. 



Trap strips. There is no question as to the value of trap strips, 

 especially in seasons when the Hessian fly is excessively abundant. 

 This pest becomes numerous only when conditions are favorable, 

 and it should not be difficult for the well-posted wheat grower to 

 anticipate, in considerable measure, the probability of injury and 

 to judge as to the desirability of sowing trap strips. These latter 

 should be sowed early (approximately August 25th to September 

 10th in New York State) so as to attract the flies and induce the 

 deposition of eggs before the main crop appears above ground. 

 The infested wheat should then be turned under deeply so as to 

 prevent the subsequent development of the insects. It is not neces- 

 sary to have the trap strip on the sides of the wheat field, though 

 such a location is preferable, as the chances of attracting most, if 

 not all the flies, are better. 



Burning stubble and chaff. The burning of stubble has been 

 recommended by a number of writers, but in New York State at 

 least, the common practice of seeding with wheat makes this in- 

 advisable. Such an objection would not hold in regard to burning 

 chaff from the thrashing machine and this might well be done in 

 case the wheat is at all infested by the Hessian fly. This measure 

 would also prove of service in controlling the allied wheat midge. 



Plowing, under stubble. The early plowing under of infested 

 stubble before the flies emerge is advisable if it can be done without 

 additional expense. 



Destruction of volunteer wheat. This latter is a prolific source 

 of breeding in some seasons and should be turned under wherever 

 possible before the flies appear. In some instances it might be 

 feasible to use a portion of- the volunteer wheat as trap strips. 



Rotation of crops. This is excellent agricultural practice and 

 should be of service in reducing ravages by the wheat midge, 

 especially if care is taken to locate the wheat fields of successive 

 years at some distance from each other. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



A detailed account of this insect, with an extended bibliography 

 is given in the report of the Entomologist for 1901 (N. Y. State 

 Mus. Bui. 53) pages 705-30. The more recent literature has been 

 listed by Paul Hayhurst in the Journal of Economic Entomology, 

 1909, 2:231-34. 



