here is but one other insect known to attack the “bulb” of wheat 
'ter the method of this maggot, and that is the Hessian fly, and I 
rve thought it especially desirable to give our species a name 
hich shall serve to distinguish it from the latter, with which it has 
3en so generally confounded. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Differential Characters. The insects with which this species is 
tost likely to be confounded in the larval stage are the Hessian 
y in fall and spring, and the stalk-borer and the straw-worm in 
ddsummer. 
As compared with the larva of the Hessian fly in autumn, the most 
seful distinguishing character of the bulb-w'orm is the presence of 
le two slender, black hooks beneath the head, with the tips curved 
ownwards and not towards each other, and which are kept in 
[most constant motion, backwards and forwards. (Plate I, Fig. 4.) 
hese are easily seen with a litfle attention, in both dead and living 
trvae. The Hessian fly larva (Plate XV), on the other hand, has 
o mouth organs whatever, the mouth being reduced to a mere 
pening on the surface. During the winter and spring, until about 
ie first of May, the discrimination of these species is easy, since the 
fly” is at this time in the “flaxseed” state, the living larva being 
aclosed in a tough brown case, about the size and shape of a flax- 
3ed, while the bulb worm is a naked, greenish-white maggot. From 
ais, again, the second brood of the larva of the Hessian fly may 
e distinguished, like the autumnal brood, by the absence of the 
louth-hooks, as well as by the exact character of the injury to the 
Feat. The larva of the “fly” does not penetrate the stalk, like the 
ulb worm, but lies imbedded between that and the inner leaves. 
In this latter particular our larva resembles the wheat-straw w 7 orm 
Isosoma tritici) (Plate II, Fig. 8, a and b), which also penetrates 
be stalk; but from this the spring brood of the bulb v'orm may be 
Did by the fact that the straw worm has a distinct head very different 
rom the first segment of the body, and armed with bilateral jaws 
Pig. 3, d), while the head of the bulb worm is merely the pointed 
nterior end of the body, and has only the longitudinal hooks before 
aentioned. The straw worm also infests the upper part of the 
tern but rarely, usually occurring two or three joints below the 
ippermost, while the second brood of Meromyza is almost strictly 
onfined to the stem just above the upper internode. 
While the work of the latter has a superficial resemblance to that 
>f the stalk-borer, the insects themselves are not at all alike, the 
; atter being a small, striped caterpillar (Plate XI, Fig. 4,) with 
ointed legs and with prolegs; and the injuries are likewise readily 
iistinguishable by the fact that the stalk-borer makes a round hole 
rom the outside, usually at the internode, through which it enters 
he cavity of the stalk. 
Imago. (Plate I, Figs. 1 and 2.) About .18 .inch long by .8 inch 
vide, pale yellowish-green; head (fig. 2) produced in front of the 
yes, broadly rounded anteriorly, marked above with delicate longi- 
i udinal striae; a triangular black spot on the occiput, including the 
