HESSIAN FLY. 
15 
retracted, and it was of a white milky colour, excepting at the 
divisions of the segments, and also along the central line from one 
extremity to the other, which were all of a greyer tint. This appear¬ 
ance is stated by Dr. Wagner to he the beginning of the development 
of the adipose body, which “ is distinguishable as snow-white masses 
from the remainder of the more transparent body.”* Beneath the 
maggot, close to the head-end, was the chitinous appendage, which is 
known in America as the “ breast-bone ” of Cecidomyideous larvae, 
with us the “ anchor-process.” 
As I am not aware that this anchor-process of the larva of the 
Cecidomyia destructor has as yet been precisely figured, I give a 
magnified sketch from my own British specimens. The anchor- 
process is a short stem fixed at one end to the 
larva, and free at the other ; the free end, which 
points forward, is considerably enlarged, and is of 
various form. In the “red maggot” of our own 
British Wheat Midge it is notched, as at fig. 2, 
No. 4, but in the anchor-process of the Hessian 
Fly the shape is more elaborate. The stem is 
slightly enlarged at the middle, and the extremity 
furnished with two conical prolongations, forming 
together a strong fork. When seen sideways the 
process looks more slender, and has a curved figure making a gentle 
arch from the insertion to the forked tip. 
The use of this appendage does not appear as yet to be fully known, 
but from my own observations I conjecture that it is used as a digger 
or scraper, and it may be that the reason why strong-stemmed wheat, 
or stems containing more silica, are not so much injured by attack as 
other kinds, is, that the fork is not strong enough in these instances 
to assist the excessively delicate mouth-parts to acquire their food 
from the stem. 
The formation of the skin of the maggot is very peculiar, and, as 
1 2 
No. 4.—1, anchor- 
process of larva of G. 
destructor; 2, of (7. 
tritici (magnified). 
“ The larva .—After remaining about four days in the egg-state the larva or 
maggot of the Hessian Fly hatches, and is of the form 
represented. The body is soft, smooth, shining, oval, cylin¬ 
drical, beneath a little flattened, and consists of twelve 
segments besides the head, the latter soft, fleshy, and but 
little separated from the body, with very rudimentary mouth- 
parts.”—Hessian Fly Beport of Department of Agriculture, 
1880 - 82, p. 208, previously cited. 
The above figures of egg and larva are copied from the 
same. The larva, when fairly advanced in growth, is stated 
by Dr. Wagner to be white or yellowish white, transparent at the sides. 
* Dr. Wagner on the Hessian Fly, Appendix I. Third Beport of United States 
Entomological Commission, 1880. 
V 
R+P 
No. 3.—Eggaud maggot 
of Hessian Fly, nat. 
size and mag. 
