342 
[Assembi.t 
The scientific name, Cecidomyia destructor , bestowed upon this 
species by Mr. Say, is the only one belonging to it, neither the 
name Tipula tritici , nor Tipula vaginalis tritici having any legiti¬ 
mate claims to be retained as synonyms. Mr. Say’s name might at 
first view be thought liable to criticism, as being in no wise distinc¬ 
tive, many other species of Cecidomyians being also destroyers. 
Yet this species is so preeminent in that particular, as to throw the 
injuries inflicted by each of the others quite in the back ground. 
We hence think it will be conceded that the name is signally ap¬ 
propriate. Placed beside it, all its kindred are mere depredators— 
this alone is the destroyer. 
Its Characters , Transformations , and Habits. 
As a general rule, the Hessian fly passes regularly through two 
generations annually. The first of these occupies the autumn, win¬ 
ter, and fore part of the spring, and is reared at the roots of the 
young grain, slightly below the surface of the ground. The second 
occupies the remainder of the spring and the summer, and is chiefly 
nurtured at the first and second joints of the straw. The time when 
its several transformations occur, is not perfectly uniform, being va¬ 
ried by the climate, the state of the weather, and perhaps other 
contingencies ; and it is not improbable that individual specimens, 
placed in circumstances unfavorable to their developement, have 
their growth retarded so much as to require even a whole year to 
complete their metamorphoses. 
First Generation. 
The Egg. When and where deposited. —The eggs of the first 
generation are deposited chiefly in the fore part of September. Dr. 
But, inasmuch as we have another common word (gnat), applied to species having 
in this respect the same habit, in the paucity of terms which our language furnishes by 
which to designate insects, it is desirable that no two of these terms should bo em¬ 
ployed as synonymous. And as the night midge (Anglo-Saxon mygge or miege, a 
swarmer,) is appropriate for all those minuto flies which assemblo together in acria 
dances, it would be well to adopt it as the generic or family term for all the small 
Tipulida), and apply the term gnat only to the Culicid® or musketoe family. This ap¬ 
pears to be the mode in which the English entomologists at present employ these 
words. And in this country it will probably be more easy to bring the new name, 
wheat-midge, into common use as the distinctive appellation of the C. tritici, than to 
have any one of tho names now bestowed upon it supersede all the others. 
