GRAMINEOUS CROPS. 117 



about ten days. The small red larvse (called " red gum " 

 by farmers) from these eggs feed upon the " germs " 

 of the florets, which often renders them abortive. It 

 is said " that as much as iive per cent, of the crop is 

 frequently destroyed by this injurious insect." When 

 full-grown, the larvse go down to the ground, and are 

 there transformed into reddish-coloured pupae. The 

 pupse either hibernate or turn to perfect insects during 

 the month of June {i.e., according to whether the brood 

 has been a late or an early one). 



Prevention. — (1) Deep ploughing. (2) Destroy those 

 grasses (especially Avena fatua [wild oat grass]) upon 

 which the larvse of the wheat fly feed. (3) As a number 

 of larvse may be in the ears of corn, it is advisable that 

 the chaff, etc. (after threshing), should be carefully ex- 

 amined. If any maggots are found, they should be 

 destroyed. (4) The firing of infested stubbles has been 

 recommended. 



Cii,re. — See those mentioned for destroying the Hessian 



fly- 



The Wheat Bulb Fly (Anthomyia coarctata, Musca 

 coarctata) is a grey-coloured fly, about one-third of an 

 inch in length, and measures half an inch across the 

 extended wings. According to Megnin {L' Insectologie 

 Agricole), the tarsi of the females are of a red colour, 

 whilst those of the male are black. The white larvse, or 

 maggots, are about the same length as the body of the 

 perfect insect. They are devoid of legs, but are pro- 

 vided with "teeth'' and "hooks " at their posterior ends. 

 The larvse of this fly turn to brown-coloured pupse in the 

 earth. During the season " there are two generations. 

 One is commenced by eggs laid upon autumn-sown wheat 

 plants. Flies of the second generation appear again in 



