ORIGINAL HABITAT. 9 
of its distribution, injuries, and habits in Russia, determining particu- 
larly the variations of brood in different parts of the country, the effect 
of climate, and of limiting its food plants to wheat, rye. and barley. 
An important recent contribution has been made by Dr. Paul Mar- 
chal (71), whose conclusions we shall have frequent occasion to use. 
He has determined that there may be as high as six broods per year; 
that the insect is greatly influenced by climatic conditions, has sepa- 
rated a distinct species affecting' oats, and added greatly to our knowl- 
edge of the parasites. 
In 1897 Prof. W. M. Schoyen,* the official entomologist of Norway, 
discussed its appearance in that country, pointing out that it was 
responsible for considerable damage, and showing that it had a wider 
distribution there than had been generally credited to it. 
Still later, Dr. M. Paspelow (91), of Moscow, has added further 
details in determining the life history of the species and its habits in 
central Russia. 
ORIGINAL HABITAT OF HESSIAN FLY. 
Notwithstanding all the effort that has been devoted to determining 
the original home of the Hessian fly. we are still in the dark as to its 
exact original habitat and the exact time of its introduction into America. 
Two difficulties which are well-nigh insurmountable must always 
obstruct such precise determinations. The earlier accounts, which 
might be interpreted as applying to this species, are all too vague to 
permit one to say absolutely that they do so apply, and no distinctive 
name, common or technical, is available to trace the species prior to 1778. 
The name •• Hessian fly" was first used for the species after its appear- 
ance in ]Sew York in 1778. and presumably on the ground that its intro- 
duction was attributed to the Hessian soldiers, although, as has been 
suggested by Ilagen. such a name might have been applied simply as 
a result of the bitter feeling existing against these invaders, and which 
sought a vent in transferring their name to the detestable pests that 
were ravaging the wheat fields. 
The fact that it is con lined so strictly to wheat, rye. and barley, as 
food plants, should lead as to think that it has been associated with 
these as food plants from prehistoric times and to look for its source in 
the locality where these were indigenous. Inasmuch as this is a ques- 
tion impossible of absolute determination, although authorities gener- 
ally refer their origin to western Asia, we have still a doubt: but. so 
far as America is concerned, we ma\ reasonably conclude that as the 
hosts are introduced plants the Hessian fly is an introduced ins 
It seems unnecessary here to revive the controversy as to the intro- 
duction of this species, in view of the exhaustive papers by Professors 
Hagen and Riley and the evidence by the latter that all supposed 
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