STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
37 
there are numerous species, all of which are continually searching plant 
lice to feed upon, these being- the sole nourishment of the lady bug, both in 
its larvae and its perfect state. 
In addition to these are the synphus flies, the golden-eyed flies, and the 
lace-wing flies, all mortal enemies to the different kinds of aphis. 
By such means is it that these plant lice upon the grain as on other vege¬ 
tation, are usually but a transitory evil—these, their foes and destroyers, 
always gathering around them wherever they become numerous, and mul¬ 
tiplying until they overbalance and subdue them. 
Some one asked for a description of the lady bug. Dr. Fitch described 
it as follows: It is about the size and shape of half of a small pea, of a 
yellowish red color, with round black spots upon it. 
Question .—Is it poisonous to animals ? 
Dr. Fitch knew a single instance where swine had been pastured in a 
field where the lady bug was numerous. All of the herd were taken sick 
and some of them died. The swine were removed from that field to another, 
and such as were so removed recovered. Dr. F. said that it was possible 
that the swine were poisoned by eating large quantities of the lady bug; 
for if it is taken in the fingers and crushed, an acrid juice is emitted, which 
is doubtless poisonous, inasmuch as it is the insect’s only means of defence. 
He had thought it possible that this particular herd of swine might have 
been poisoned by it. 
Question . — Is there any prospect of the aphis becoming a permanent pest 
in the country? 
Answer .—I think not. Its enemies are too numerous for that. Not more 
than a single year at a time, will they be likely to ravage in a single 
locality. As before said, they seem to be migrating westward. 
Question .—Is the midge a permanent pest; is it plenty here at all 
seasons ? 
Answer .—There is no doubt that the midge is plenty in all parts of the 
country. The character of the season governs its ravages. If the latter 
part of June is wet, look out for the midge ; if dry, there is no danger. In 
dry weather it cannot subsist on the uplands ; it returns to the lowlands. 
T. C. Peters—We are fast reaching the maximum of former years, in the 
amount of wheat sown in Western New York, and it is an important 
matter to us to know how to avoid the ravages of the midge. Do you 
recommend thorough culture ? 
Dr. Fitch — Strong growing wheat will produce despite the midge. Yes, 
i do recommend thorough culture as one of the preventives of the ravages 
of the midge ; also of the Hessian fly and other insects. 
Question . — What is the effect of the work of the aphis upon the grain, 
upon the kernel ? 
Answer.—The insect extracts the juices from the plant which aid in 
developing and maturing the kernel. This diminishes the size of the 
grain, sometimes virtually destroying it, for the substance is almost gone. 
Mr. Geddes, of Onondaga, does not agree with Dr. Fitch concerning his 
theory with reference to the existence of the midge. He doubts if the 
midge exists in as great numbers one year as another, or if they are present 
at all, for prior to the past six years he had failed to get a crop of wheat 
