12 
common or clear-winged species, else I should not have failed to 
have regarded them more particularly. 
All parts of this field of four acres were found to be infested 
more or less with the wheat-fly, but they occurred most abundantly 
along one of its sides, in the field adjoining which, wheat had been 
grown the preceding year, which had been considerably injured by 
this insect. Such a host of destroyers as were here found, and the 
profusion of eggs that had been already deposited, strongly indicated 
that it must have commenced appearing in its winged state many 
days previous to this time. 
The wheat-fly may be met with daily, from the fore part of June, 
until so late at least as the middle of August. Although it congre- 
gates in swarms about fields of wheat at the time they are in blos- 
som, it also occurs in a great variety of other situations. It often 
enters houses, upon the windows of which it may be observed 
dancing along the panes of glass, sometimes in numbers. It may 
also be taken among the grass of pastures, and of alluvial meadows 
that have never been turned up by the plough. It is sometimes 
found in shady places, particularly along the margin of streams, 
associated with other minute species of Tipulide in those dances 
in which swarms of these insects so often engage. One specimen 
was met with on weeds, in the margin of an extensive and dense 
forest, through which it must have made its way, or over an adjoin- 
ing lake a half mile broad, on the opposite side of which was the 
nearest cultivated ground. 
The fly, during the sunshine of day, moves about but little, re- 
maining mostly at rest, or lurking about in’ the shade furnished 
towards the roots of the growing grain. In the twilight of evening it 
becomes active, ang continues so perhaps during the entire night ; for 
before the morning sunrise it may be seen abundantly upon the wing, 
though less agile than in the evening, as though it had now becoine 
somewhat wearied, or was rendered sluggish by the coolness and 
dampness of the night air. Upon cloudy days, also, it resorts but 
little to its accustomed retreats. But it is during the evenings which 
succeed hot days of sunshine that it appears to be most busy and 
full of life. If a field infested with them be visited with a lantern 
at this time, such hosts as were little imagined to exist, will be found 
busily hovering about the grain, the most of them with wings and 
legs extended, dancing, as it were, slowly up and down along the 
