Sept. 1894.] INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



51 



comes. They have been found full-grown and feeding vora- 

 ciously on the roots and stems of corn and grasses in January in 

 mild vv^eather. 



The larva or grub is an inch long. It is somevs^hat variable 

 in colour, but generally brownish, or brov^n shaded with dark 

 green, or sometimes lighter and approaching ash-grey. Two 

 light-coloured lines may be traced down the back. 



It puts out at pleasure its black head, furnished with strong- 

 jaws for biting. At the tail end, which is cut square, there are 

 several tubercles. Though it has no legs it moves about easily 

 and quickly. 



Pupation generally occurs towards September. The pupa is 

 nearly as long as the larva, and of a similar colour. In changing, 

 spines are formed at each segment, as shown in the figure, by 

 means of which the pupa wriggles up through the earth and the 

 fly escapes, leaving the chrysalis case sticking half out of the 

 ground. 



Prevention and Remedies, 



Congenial habitations of the Daddy Longiegs flies are wet 

 ditches, damp sides of hedgerows, and headlands, marshes, and 

 low-lying and undrained meadows. These are their head- 

 quarters and breeding places, and obvious methods of checking 

 their increase are to keep ditches well brushed and cleaned out, 

 to abolish hedgerows, where possible, or to keep them trimmed, 

 and to drain wet land. 



Very often the attack of these flies is upon field crops follow- 

 ing clover, or artificial grasses, whose herbage has induced the 

 insects to deposit eggs, and has served as shelter for them. It 

 is important, therefore, to keep clovers and grasses down close 

 before the land is ploughed in the autumn. Folding sheep upon 

 such land is a capital mode of prevention. Egg-laying commonly 

 takes place in the early autumn, and it is therefore desirable 

 to plough clover and other gra^s-leys early where there has been 

 infestation, or where there is fear of infestation. Such land 

 should be ploughed deeply and rolled to keep the herbage 

 under, and the eggs deeply buried so tliat larvae cannot be 

 hatched from them. Meadows and pasture-land that have been 

 infested should be kept well fed ofif throughout the latter part of 

 August and during September. Wheat and oat-stubbles, where 

 there has been an attack of these larvae, shcmld be deeply 

 ploughed in the autumn. 



Where strawberry-plants have been injured by the larvae, the 

 plants should be trimmed close, and the spaces between them 

 hoed or dug, or horse-hoed where large breadths are cultivated, 

 and soot and lime applied, or gas-lime when it can be obtained. 



Cricket-grounds and lawns that have suflered from these 

 insects should be frequently rolled and mowed with a machine 

 during September and October. 



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