28 
OBSERVATIONS UPON 
THE SQUASH ROOT-MAGGOT. 
(Cyrtonema stabulans (?) Fabr.*) 
As early planted squashes were just beginning 
to send out vines last summer, it was noticed that 
many plants suddenly wilted and died. The ground 
in each case was wet with the juices that had 
escaped from the injured roots and crown of the 
plant. I was told that the death of the plants was 
due to the punctures of the squash bug (Anasa 
tristis) which was very abundant about the plants. 
I found, however, on examination, that the stems 
of the plants below the surface were completely 
honeycombed by a white maggot, the young of 
some two-winged fly. In the earth about the stems, 
eggs, maggots and pupae of the fly were found as 
late as July 13 and from maggots and pupae gather¬ 
ed at that time flies began to appear during the 
last day of July. 
The eggs are pure white in color, about one 
twentieth of an inch in length and, as seen under a 
microscope, are ribbed longitudinally except along 
one side, which is smooth. A single egg is so small 
^Determined for me by S. W. Williston, Lawrence, Kan. as Cyrtonema sp. and 
probably stabulans. 
