HESSIAN FLY. 
11 
An alarm took place as to the arrival of the pest about the begin¬ 
ning of the present century, which was proved to be unfounded by 
evidence that it was another kind of fly.* The well-known passages 
in Kirby and Spence’s ‘ Entomology ’ as to the destructive character of 
this pest if it gained footing give a long range onwards of woTi-obser- 
vation from about 1815 to the date of the edition of 1855 ; and in 
1845 John Curtis notices the attack as one which, as it had then been 
detected in Europe, it was well to mention. And, in the summary of 
information given in the ‘Keport on Hessian Fly,’ brought out by the 
United States Entomological Commission, 1880-82, I find these 
statements: “ We know that the Cecidomyia destructor does not inhabit 
England or Scandinavia.”! 
Thoughout this course of years we do not find any authentic notice 
of the Hessian Fly occurring on our side the Atlantic until possibly 
1833 in Hungary, but the first sure statement of the existence of the 
Hessian Fly in Europe is considered to be that of “ its discovery, by 
Mr. J. Dana in 1834, at Mahon, Toulon, and Naples” (“Hessian 
Fly not imported from Europe,” ‘ Canadian Entomologist,’ 1880). 
It is now known to exist in the South of France, Austria, Hungary, 
and during the last seven years its presence has been reported in 
Southern Eussia, and its original habitat is considered most probably 
to have been Southern Europe and Western Asia, ^. e., about the 
shores of the Mediterranean Sea. (Eeport of U. S. A Commission, 
previously cited). 
The jjast summer has shown its yresence amongst ourselves. On July 
27th the first specimens of the peculiar flax-seed-like pupa were 
forwarded to me by Mr. G. E. Palmer from his barley fields near 
Hertford, and shortly after the attack was reported as found on other 
neighbouring farms. On Aug. 10th some small amount was found at 
Stubbers, near Eomford, Essex, in wheat; on Aug. 28th the same 
attack, with pupae now advanced to the striated condition (that is, 
* See Linn. Trans., ii., 76 - 80. 
t The name of Hessian Fly was originally given in consequence of the fly being 
noticed about the same time with the arrival of the Hessian troops in America. 
Those who wish to see the evidence by which this transmission is thoroughly dis¬ 
proved will And the subject entered on at length in a paper by Dr. Hagen, entitled, 
“ The Hessian Fly not imported from Europe,” ‘ Canadian Entomologist,’ October, 
1880. The dates, with names of ports, of embarkation and those of arrival in 
America, are there given both of the Hessian and German troops; and (to give just 
one note of the various movements specified) it will appear plain that where troops 
left Hesse in February, Spithead in May, and arrived in Sandy Hook in July, or up 
to August 12th, that the “flax-seeds” could not by possibility be thus conveyed. 
If pujose had been in the straw (if straw was conveyed) they would have developed 
long before the middle of summer, if they were in a state to develop at all. Full 
details will be found in the paper referred to. 
