THE CULTIVATOR. 
243 
INSECTS IN WHEAT—(Fig. 76.) 
Some fields of wheat in this neighborhood have been 
much injured the present season by the yellow maggot, 
the larvae of the wheat midge, (Cecidomyia tritica,) 
sometimes improperly called the weevil. The parent of 
this maggot is a small fly, less in size than the common 
musketoe, which deposits eggs between the scales of the 
chaff about the time the wheat is in blossom. The eggs 
are generally, but not always, deposited next the kernel, 
and the larvae subsists on the juices which would other¬ 
wise nourish the grain. The consequence is, the kernel 
is more or less shriveled, according to the number of in¬ 
sects which infest the head. We have seen as many as 
half a dozen maggots around a single kernel, and the 
whole number in the head could not have been less than 
fifty, leaving not one sound, plump grain. It is some¬ 
times said that this insect eats into the kernel; but we 
think this is a mistake—we have seen no instances of the 
kind—the worm is a simple maggot, not at all calculated 
for gnawing or boring. 
This insect was first noticed in this country about the 
year 1831 or 5 32, though it had been known in Europe 
many years before. In those parts of this country where 
it was at first most abundant, we believe it has been for a 
few years past diminishing, We are informed that this is 
the case in Vermont, New-Hampshire and Maine. It 
seems to have been, in its first appearance, most destruct¬ 
ive to spring wheat, but lately has attacked the winter 
wheat. No successful remedy has yet been suggested 
against its attacks. Some have advised the suspension of 
wheat culture for a few years in the infected districts. 
Perhaps this would be the best course, as the enemy 
would thus be starved out and annihilated. It has been 
remarked that in spring wheat, the early sown is gene¬ 
rally most affected, from the circumstance of its coming 
into bloom about the time the fly is ready to deposit its 
eggs. Hence where spring wheat is grown, the plan of 
sowing late has been followed with advantage. That 
sown the latter part of May or first of June, has general¬ 
ly escaped this fly, but it is very liable to rust when sown 
so late. 
In regard to winter wheat, the earliest sown is gene¬ 
rally most exempt from attack—it gets past bloom and 
out of the way before the fly is ready to deposit its eggs. 
Mr. Thomas Hillhouse, an extensive farmer of this neigh¬ 
borhood, informs us that the portion of his wheat which 
was sown the first week in September is saved, while all 
which was sown after the 25th of that month, is nearly 
lost. Mr. Hillhouse thinks, that in a season like the pre¬ 
sent, the wheat must be sufficiently early to pass out of 
the “ milk” before the 20th of June, to be safe from this 
insect. 
Some of the worms pass into the pupa or chrysalis state, 
in the head of the wheat, and are winnowed out with the 
chaff, but it is probable the greater number undergo trans¬ 
formation in the ground; for this reason it would be bad 
policy to sow wheat on the same ground two years in 
succession. Kollar says there is a parasitic insect allied 
to the family of Ichneumons, which preys on the midge, 
and seems designed by nature to keep it within proper 
bounds. We have not seen this parasite, and do not 
know that it has been found in this country. 
Fig. 76, at the head of this article, copied from Kollar, 
shows the wheat midge in different stages, both of the 
natural size and magnified. One section of the cut shows 
Explanation of Fig. 77. 
1— Wheat stalk with the larvae of the Hessian fly deposited—three 
of the stalks punctured by the Ichneumon, Ceraphron —natural size, 
3-20ths of an inch.— a. a. larvae and pupa. 
2— Section of the wheat stalk, with the larvae magnified. 
3— Larvae advanced to the pupa state, magnified. 
4,5—Male and female Hessian fly, Cecidomyia destructor , magnified. 
8, 9—Male and female Ichneumon, Ceraphron destructor, mafinified. 
several of the larvae within the chaff which encloses the 
wheat kernel. 
The Hessian Fly, (Cecidomyia destructor ,) fig. 77. 
This fly has been known in this country for the last sixty 
years, and is probably the cause of more injury to the far¬ 
mer, taking the whole country together, than any other 
insect. The parent fly resembles the C. tritici, just de¬ 
scribed, though their habits are widely different—the one 
depositing its eggs in the head of the grain, and the oth¬ 
er near the root of the young plant. The infected plants 
may be readily known while small, by their dull lead co¬ 
lor. Soon after the wheat appears above the ground, the 
Hessian fly deposits its eggs on the upper or inner side 
of the leaf near the stem, usually above the first or se¬ 
cond joint. The eggs are very small, andean scarcely 
be discerned by the naked eye. In the course of four or 
five days, if the weather is favorable, the larvae, which 
are of a reddish white color, make their appearance, and 
work their way into the sheath formed by the leaf around 
the stem. They remain in the larvae state a longer oi 
shorter time, according to the state of the weather. They 
do not change their habitation to pass into the pupa state, 
