10 
POPULAE SCIENCE EEYIEW. 
near the root, we find the pupae, brown semi-cylindrical 
bodies, showing through the hardened integument the black 
hooked organ so prominent in the larva, and the serrated teeth 
at the posterior extremity (figs. 12 a & b). These pupae change 
into two-winged flies of the genus Anthomyia of Meigen. 
The species to which this maggot belongs is the Anthomyia 
hrassicce of Bouche. I have pupae now in my possession, but 
have no personal acquaintance with the perfect insect. The 
figure in plate (fig. 13) is copied from Curtis's “ Farm 
Insects." It is the male of a closely related species, named 
by Bouche Anthomyia radicum , whose larva is said to be very 
similar to the last named, and to be, like it, injurious to the 
turnip roots. Of all the numerous enemies to the turnip crops, 
I suspect that this, as in 1865, will prove itself the most to be 
dreaded. The maggots boring their way into the bulbs are 
there as fixtures until they wish to assume the pupa form, 
when they quit the turnip and bury themselves in the 
ground. 
A curious parasitic insect, one of the useful Tchneumonides , 
named by Bouche Alysia Manducator , lives as a larva within 
the bodies of the Anthomyia pupae, and keeps them in check. 
I am not at present acquainted with it. The problem to 
solve, in order to prevent the fly from laying its eggs near the 
turnips, is to discover some preparation obnoxious to the 
insect and not hurtful to the plant, which might be put upon 
the soil. Lye of ashes, into which cabbage plants on being 
transplanted are dipped, is said to preserve them ; but, as 
Curtis has well remarked, “ It often happens that good 
specifics which may be successfully employed in the garden, 
cannot conveniently be extended to the field." I suspect 
that gas-tar might be used with great advantage. 
The larva of the Anthomyia hrassicce has a pair of curious 
branchiae between the second and third segment of the 
anterior extremity. These are connected with delicate 
branching tracheae (figs. 10 and 11). 
All the maggots which I noticed in the turnip bulbs 
appeared to belong to the same species of fly ; but Mr. Curtis 
enumerates two or three other kinds, which, either in this 
country or on the Continent, are known to affect the crops, 
and adds, “ my own opinion is, that nothing can be more 
likely to encourage the maggots of the cabbage and turnip 
flies than fresh dung, in which it seems they luxuriate; and such 
being the case, by spreading it in a raw state, an entire field 
may at once be inoculated with the disease." As far as my 
own experience goes, I have not found the maggot that has 
proved so destructive to the bulbs in dung, but a closely 
related one I have noticed in abundance in farmyard manure. 
