OF THE FARM AI^D GARDEI^. 



]23 



PROBABLE GEOGRAPHICAL LlillTS OF THE HESSIAK FLY. 



The question iiatarally arises whether this pest will 

 ever infest the wheat regions of Western Dakota, Mon- 

 tana, Utah, Colorado, and the Pacific States and Terri- 

 tories. We belieye not, though aware that such a state- 

 ment may he hazardous. It was originally an inhabitant 

 of Central and Southern Europe; it has become acclima- 

 ted in the Eastern, Atlantic, and Middle States, in the 

 Valley of the Upper St. Lawrence and in the Valley of the 

 Mississippi River; that it can thrive in the elevated, dry 

 Eocky Mountain plateau regions, withstand the cool 

 nights and dry, hot atmosphere of the Far West, seems 

 very doubtful. At least so slowly has it spread westward; 

 so slight an amount of wheat or straw is transported, all 

 produce of this kind going eastward, that we doubt 

 whether during this century at least it will extend west 

 of Kansas and Minnesota, where it has already had a 

 foothold for several years. 



Bulletin No. 4 of the Entomological Commission, by 

 Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., gives a full account of the Hes- 

 sian Ely, which all interested should be able to procure 

 from their representatives in Congress, as these Bulletins 

 are published at the expense of the tax-payers. 



THE WHEAT MIDGE. 



{Diplosis tritici, Kirby.) 



The Wlieat Midge was formerly regarded as an insect 

 of the same genus with the Hessian Ely, and was known 

 as Cecidomyia triticiy but Entomologists now rank it in 

 a separate genus, Diplosis. In general appearance the 

 parent insect much resembles the Hessian Ely, but it de- 

 posits its eggs in the flowers of the wheat. The heads 

 of wheat thus attacked are soon seen to shrivel, and upon 

 examination there will be found numerous legless mag- 



