OF INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
9 
Tipula Oleracea. 
5. Tipula oleracea. Daddy Longlegs ; Crane Flies. 
This Grub lias been tlie most destructive of the Farm pests of 
1880. The parent Flies, commonly known as Daddy Longlegs, or 
Crane Flies, deposit their eggs either amongst damp grass or leafage, 
on the surface of the ground, or just below the surface, choosing 
especially such situations as damp meadows, Clover leas, hedge sides, 
and the like; consequently the season of 1879, when all was damp, 
suited them admirably; and a few notes in detail of the ravages of the 
Grubs from last autumn’s eggs, and their cost, may help to give some 
idea of the loss entailed by a wide-spread attack of this kind to the 
country at large. 
The first observation was forwarded during February from Mr. J. 
Harrison, Wilstrop Hall, near York, who mentioned that the Grubs 
were destroying hundreds of acres of autumn-sown Wheat on heavy 
land in the district, doing their work with great rapidity. In one field 
of twenty acres, that was especially observed, they had destroyed almost 
every plant within a week or ten days, although seven cwt. of salt had 
been applied per acre. The pest was only observed there on Wheat sown 
after clover. 
Early in the year, also, Mr. Scowcroft mentioned that at Ormskirk, 
Lancashire, “ the Grubs swarm in almost countless numbers where 
last year’s crop was grass; and a number of farmers are again paying 
for having them hand-picked.” At the Birches Farm, Tenbury, Here¬ 
fordshire, they were also reported as very destructive in May ; 40,000 
Cabbages had been planted, and the Grubs were working amongst 
them. Salt and lime were found useless. Mr. Marshall, writing in 
c 
