702 Reports of the Honorary Consulting Entomologist. 
these cells were placed so closely side by side, that sometimes 
the whole surface beneath the bark was pitted with them, and 
in all cases the bark was so completely loosened and destroyed 
for a length of some inches, that it was peeling off in ragged 
flakes, and consequently the shoot above would certainly 
perish. 
The grubs were (about the middle of April) turning to 
chrysalids in their cells ; these chrysalids are of a bright scarlet 
colour, and show the shape of the future gnat midge, and are 
peculiar from having two upright horns, or sharp somewhat 
triangular ear-like processes on the head. The midges come 
out about the beginning of May, and are in shape much like the 
wheat midge (figured in the ' Journal ' of the Society, part i. 
1884, p. 329) ; the colour is of various shades of brown or 
grey. 
The best way to prevent the renewal of attack is to remove 
all the infested shoots from the osier ground, early enough in the 
year to ensure the grub being carried off in the sticks, or 
destroyed, by burning the pieces that are absolutely worthless, 
before the time comes when it will develop to midges. The 
beginning of April would be quite early enough for this, and 
where, as in the instance reported, the osiers are spring cut, 
there would be little loss or difficulty in this treatment. Shoots 
left, on account of smallness for cutting, to run to a second year 
appear particularly liable to attack, plainly in consequence of 
being present in order for egg-laying, when the midge develops. 
Other applications have been sent to me relating to crop pests 
and measures of prevention of insect injury, both home and 
colonial, to which I have carefully attended. Some information 
has already been forwarded in reply to the Society's circular 
regarding maggots in manure. This at present chiefly refers to 
daddy-longlegs grubs. 
These have been found in cattle-droppings on pasture land ; 
also in very large numbers in rotten turf which had been cut 
and piled in the autumn ; and also with other grubs in decayed 
weeds and other vegetable matter left heaped during winter 
for experiment. 
Full details of these and other observations in progress will 
be given in due course. I have forwarded about 300 of the 
Society's circulars to observers, and have reason to hope for some 
serviceable returns. 
The Warble Fig. — I beg further to submit that my attention 
has been directed to the yearly injury to horned cattle, and 
the depreciation in the value of hides caused by the attack 
commonly known as " warbles." 
