30 
CORN AND GRASS. 
from Spurstow Hall, Tarporley, Cheshire, with the observation that 
he had a field of Oats much injured by a small insect answering to the 
description of Corn Thrips. Other insects were noted as being present, 
as Corn Aphis, and a few larvae also, similar to those of the Sawfly, 
had been on the blade of the Oat ; but with regard to the special 
attack it was observed that many of the heads were void of grain, 
this being destroyed by the very small Thrips which were inside 
the husk. 
On examination I found Thrips present, and in November Mr. Byrd 
reported:—“ Our Oat crop, that I named to you some time ago, must 
have lost fully 25 per cent, by the Thrips.” 
On the 2nd of August Mr. H. Stourton, of Holme Hall, near York, 
forwarded injured ears of Wheat as specimens of the method of 
attack of a small yellow insect about the twentieth of an inch long, 
which was then doing much damage in the neighbourhood. It was 
found inside the chaff at the root of the grain, and it was estimated 
that in some places 10 to 15 per cent, of the grains had been eaten. 
On examination the Wheat proved to be much infested by Thrips, 
and the above description just conveys the method of attack on Wheat. 
The Tlirip fixes itself by its sucker or jaws to the tender corn near the 
bottom of the grain, and thus, by drawing away the juice, causes the 
partial shrivelling or entire loss of the grain. 
On Sept. 10th specimens of two kinds of Wheat were sent, by Mr. 
F. W. Earle, from Huyton, near Liverpool, as specimens of an injury 
taking place on neighbouring land, which caused loss or abortion 
of the grain. This damage was also obviously in connection with 
Thrips. 
It appears quite impossible to do anything to check Tlirip-attack 
when once established in the Wheat-ears, by reason of the minute¬ 
ness of the insects, but a good deal may be done in the way of 
prevention. 
“ The circumstance that Thrips are to be found in autumn (and 
still later) in large numbers in rotten roots, or in stubble , and in 
similar lurking-places, and also in the next spring before the develop¬ 
ment of the insect from the egg can have taken place, speaks for the 
hybernation of the Thrips in its perfect state, and also for its 
subsequent attack.”* The perfect insects are thus preserved, and 
next spring, the females being furnished with wings, have full power to 
fly, or to be carried by any light breezes from their wintering places, 
to neighbouring corn or grass, where they will start new attack. 
Therefore, any measures for destroying their lurking-places would be 
sure to be of service ; and the treatment used to prevent attack of 
“ Bed Maggot ” in Wheat would be equally serviceable against Thrips. 
* ‘ Insekten kunde,’ by Dr. E. L. Taschenberg, pt. iv., p. 214. 
