34 
Then in his report as Entomologist to the United Stales Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture for 1S81 and 1882, Prof Riley publishes a 
review of the subject and a list and summary of its previous litera¬ 
ture with a plate containing figures of larva and imago, and also 
describes a parasite bred from Tennessee specimens, as Stictonotn\ 
isosomatis In “extracts from correspondence, m this report, the 
recen t on of specimens of this Isosoma from Missouri is noted, with 
the statement that “the crops that were infested by the worm were 
very poor Tnd grew mostly in fields that had been sown m wheat 
four or five years in succession.” These straw worms had pupated 
October 25. 
Next we have the following important note by Prof. ™ 
the “American Naturalist’' tor January, 1883 I was in tnree 
wheat fields yesterday, two that were m wheat last year and one in 
clover The first two had about ninety-three per cent, of the stalks 
containing from one to three worms each; the other not moie than 
five ner cent, where examined —a good proof of the efficacy ol e 
alternation of crops. The season was very favorable for the growth 
of the wheat, but the heads were short and not well filled at tne 
ends.” 
Finally, this complicated and embarrassing record terminates, for 
the 'present, with a long and interesting article by Prof French in 
the “Pacific Rural Press,” of San Francisco tor Octobei_ 20, 1 , 
called out by the receipt of some wheat stubble from Stockton, Cali 
fornia, said to have been infested by the Hessian fly 
None of this latter insect occurred in the straw, but the real cul¬ 
prits were the wheat-straw worms, a few of wlucli had pupated when 
received (September 25), but most of which were still m the larval 
staoe. Ninety-five per cent, of the straws were infested, one hun¬ 
dred of them containing one hundred and fifty-nine larvae. These 
were found in the second and third interned*,, counting from tl 
ground up more frequently than anywhere else, though they wen 
found in the fourth and fifth also. In only one instance were Pv 
found in one internode. They were mostly m the lower part ofI the 
internode, just above the joint, sometimes even buried ini the: h 
tissue of the joint, though some were to be found in all parts of th 
internode. In most instances they were to be found inside th* 
natural hollow of the stem, but in some instances they had eatei 
a channel outside of this. 
Prof. French found Eupelmus allynii also in the straws, thus con 
firming the hypothesis of its parasitism on Isosoma. He recoin 
mends burning the stubble and alternation of crops as remedies. 
DESCRIPTION. 
The following descriptions of imago and larva are quoted froi 
page 186 of the report of the United States Commissioner ot Agr. 
culture for 1881 and 1882; that of the pupa is original, and draw 
up from individuals removed from wheat straws from Perry count? 
n Southern Illinois, on the 10th of January: 
