263 
bug that lies in the earth and eateth the seed, that is somewhat like a 
maggot, of a white color with a red head, and about the bigness of one’s 
finger, and an inch or an inch and a half long,” which in our day we at 
once recognize as the white grub. For many years these worms were 
believed toturntobriers. In 1824 Mr. Jacob Cist figured the fungus para- 
site of these worms, Torrubia ravenelii, and though he disapproved of 
the brier theory, he accounted for the presence of the growth by con- 
sidering it to be the sprouts of corn originating from kernels which had 
been eaten by the worm.* 
William Wood, who visited this country in 1629 to 1633, stated 
that the Indians exceeded the English husbandmen in keeping their 
fields clean of weeds and “undermining worms.” As early as 1736 John 
Bartram complains of his plums being destroyed by an insect, and, later, 
states that all stone fruits except the Peach were subject to attack, some 
kinds of cherries outgrowing it.t 
In a paper read before the Agricultural Society of Bucks County, Pa., 
July 29, 1822,¢ Mr. James Worth calls attention to the following insects 
affecting wheat: First, a little worm found in the lower part of the 
stalks of wheat and rye, in spring and fall, and about the joints in 
June; second, a worm in the straw above the upper joints, which causes 
the early change of color of the ear, assuming a ripe appearance but 
producing no grain; third, a species of louse or Aphis which infest 
grounds and feed upon the roots of wheat, corn, young trees, ete., and 
do immense damage. Under the head of the first there was doubtless 
a confusion of Isosoma horde (and possibly tritici, also, as the larvze 
are described later as being pale yellow with brown spots about the 
mouth) and Meromyza americana, and possibly also a species of Oscinis. 
The second points unerringly to Meromyza, the larve being clearly de- 
scribed in Memoirs of Penn. Agricultural Society, Vol. 1, p. 165, and 
antedates the discovery and description of the species by Dr. Fitch 
about thirty-four years. 
According to a notice in the Prairie Farmer, p. 216 of volume for 
1845, this insect was reported in Michigan. Of this notice the follow- 
ing sentence is very significant: ‘‘In one instance nine eggs were found 
in a single straw, one of which had just hatched.” Specimens of in- 
fested straw were also forwarded to the Country Gentleman trom Scipio- 
ville, N. Y., in 1879, which the sender stated contained eggs, besides 
larve and pupe. 
Now, the eggs of any of the insects known to affect this portion of the 
stem of the wheat plant, are by far too minute to be noticed by the un- 
skilled observer. As we have elsewhere shown,§ the larve of Meromyza 
are attacked by a species of mite, Heteropus ventricosus, the gravid 
*American Journal of Science, Vol. 8, pp. 269-271, Pl. 4. 
t The. Cultivator. New Series. Vol. 7, p. 269. 2 
t{ American Farmer, Vol. 4, p. 394. 
§ Rep. Comm. Agr., 1884, p. 390. 
