REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1901 705 



INJURIOUS INSECTS 



Cecidomyia destructor Say 



HESSIAN FLY 



Ord. Dipteraj Fam. Gecidomyiidae 

 This species was first observed in this country in New York 

 and its common name was bestowed in the belief that it came 

 to us in packing or straw shipped to the Hessian soldiers then 

 stationed on Long Island. The probabilities tend in that direc- 

 tion though absolute proof may always be wanting. This pest 

 attracted the attention of entomologists in the early part of the 

 last century on account of its serious injuries, as it gradually 

 spread over the country. Dr Asa Fitch, entomologist of the 

 New York state agricultural society was one of the first to give 

 a detailed account of it and much that he published can not be 

 bettered in this later day. His account is now almost inaccessi- 

 ble to the general public and though the pest has been treated 

 in some detail by later writers, particularly by Prof. Webster 

 and Prof. Osborn, there is no complete recent account of it as 

 it occurs in New York. A very good general account of the 

 insect in the United States is given by Prof. Osborn in Bulletin 

 16, new series, division of entomology, United States depart- 

 ment of agriculture. 



Early injuries in Kew York by the Hessian fly. This summary 

 account of the depredations of the pest is taken largely from 

 the quite full treatise on it given by Dr Packard in the 3d report 

 of the United States entomological commission. 



The Hessian fly first became a serious pest in 1779 at which 

 time and for several succeeding years wheat was severely 

 injured or wholly destroyed by it in Kings and Kichmond coun- 

 ties. In 1786 and 1787, its ravages again attracted considerable 

 attention in this state, the crop of eastern Long Island having 

 been almost universally destroyed. In 1803 very severe losses 

 were caused by its operations in Saratoga and Washington 

 counties and on two or three occasions in earlier years many 

 of the fields in Saratoga county were entirely destroyed. Again 

 in 1844 losses occasioned by it on Long Island and at Rochester 



