The Insects of the Past Year and Progress in Insect Studies. 233 



within, working its way both upward and downward while feeding on 

 the inner portion, and passing successively through all of the joints. 

 Indications of its presence seldom appear before the first week in 

 July, when it has penetrated to the first joint above the ground, at 

 which time a discoloration beneath it may be noticed. When much 

 of the inner portion of the straw has been eaten away, the stalk is 

 liable to be broken and thrown to the ground by high winds that may 

 prevail. 



At the time of the harvest, nearly all of the larvae have burrowed 

 downward to the surface of the ground, where a cell is excavated and 

 closed at the top with borings, and a cocoon is spun of fine silk. 

 Here, after the cutting of the grain, it remains within the stubble, 

 hibernating in its larval stage, and not assuming its pupal form until 

 the following spring — in March or April. Some time in May the 

 winged insect emerges from the pupa, and appears abroad upon the wing. 



Professor Comstock reports that somewhat under five per cent of 

 the wheat straws have been found to contain the insect. He does not 

 find its injury to be so great as reported by European writers. Care- 

 ful weighing of the kernels of infested and uninfested heads, shows 

 hat a very moderate amount of difference in weight. Perhaps the 

 rye crop might be more seriously affected by it. It is an insect that 

 comes to us with a bad reputation, and, therefore, effort should 

 he made to arrest its spread. The Cornell University Station 

 would accomplish a good work if they would not permit us to 

 hear of its operations beyond their own borders. The wheat 

 stubble of their farm may, at the present time, entirely monopolize 

 the living and unfledged material in this country.* It is thought 

 that it may have been brought over from England in straw used for 

 packing. 



It is of no little interest to the naturalist, when the date and locality 

 of introduction from abroad of a species of injurious insect can be 

 definitely ascertained, that its rate and lines of distribution may be 

 m °re accurately determined, and change of habits under its new 

 environments observed. The last half century, prior to which but 

 httle attention had been given to the study of insects in this country, 

 affords approximate data of the kind, for several of our notable insect 

 pests. Thus, to cite a few of these: The elm-leaf beetle, Galeruca 



