DADDY LONGLEGS. 
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Daddy Longlegs. Tipula oleracea, Linn, (and other species). 
Tipula oleracea. 
Daddy Longlegs, eggs, grub, and chrysalis. 
1884 has been marked by severe attack of grubs of the Daddy 
Longlegs. The large number of the flies which bad been noticeable 
in many localities in the previous autumn gave sign of what was to 
be expected, and the steady course in which the attack came on is 
worth notice, as this is one of the kinds of attack in which (unless 
measures are taken to obviate it) the presence of the injurious insect 
may be pretty surely forotold. 
With such of our crop insects as hybernate—that is, pass the 
winter in a torpid condition—a mild or variable winter may be rather 
a means of destroying them than otherwise, for the warmth brings 
them out from their shelters, as we see with Turnip Fly on a sunny 
day in late winter, and many are taken by birds or nipped by the 
return of night frosts before they can shelter again ; but it is different 
with those that live (and feed, weather permitting) below the surface. 
The mild weather keeps both the plant and ground in a condition 
which suits them, and, though we cannot say that the cold kills them, 
as the Daddy Longlegs grubs will stand being frozen without hurt, 
still, for the time being, frost “ firms ” the surface as effectually as 
the roller, and with such grubs as go down deep in frost, and do not 
come up again directly it is gone from the surface, the crop gets 
a little respite. 
Last winter (1883-84) it will be seen from the observations that 
the grubs were advanced enough in growth to sweep off autumn-sown 
wheat in December, and they continued actively at work through the 
winter; damage continued to be reported through the season, until in 
