110 
and Golden Gate, the Meteor being far worse injured than any 
of the others. Largely owing to the severity of attacks by this 
maggot, the growing of Meteor and La France roses was almost 
entirely discontinued. A list of the varieties noticeably damaged 
by it in 1908 included besides those mentioned by Webster, the 
American Beauty, Uncle John, Joe Hill, Kate Moulton,. Brides¬ 
maid, Killarney, Liberty, and Richmond, but it was evident that 
Beauties and all “hybrid teas” were first attacked and most dam¬ 
aged. If houses growing these varieties are badly infested, but 
one full crop a year, or even less, is obtained. 
% 
Life History and Habits 
The adult of the maggot doing this damage is a very small 
midge-like fly belonging to the Cecidomyiida?, a family of much 
economic importance. The female fly (Fig. 25), or midge, as 
it is popularly known, deposits very minute yellowish eggs (Fig. 
24), which are barely visible to the naked eye, beneath the sepals 
Fig. 25. Rose Midge, Neoccrata rliodophaga, fe- Fig. 26. Rose Midge, Neocerata rho- 
male, greatly enlarged, and one of her antennae, more dophaga, male. Length of body about one 
enlarged. Length of body one twentieth inch. twenty-fifth inch. 
of the flower-buds or between the folded leaves of the leaf-buds, 
and for this purpose is provided with a long, hairlike ovipositor. 
The egg period is only two days, and the young maggots (Fig. 
24), as soon as hatched, begin their destructive attack upon the 
buds. They grow rapidly, reaching maturity (Fig. 24) in five 
