80 
CORN. 
Practically considered, the peculiar form of diseased growth which 
the Oats showed would be well worth looking for in the coming season, 
for it may turn out that the attack is more present than has been 
generally known ; and if some of the simply “ sedged ” Oats are 
infested by this Eelworm, and not by the “ Tulip-root ” Eelworm, it 
may give a clue to clearing out the attack in these cases, or to it dying 
out, without requiring anything to be done to prevent its recurrence 
on other crops, which might save a deal of trouble. 
Wheat-bulb Maggot. Hylemia coarctata, Fallen. 
The attacks of the maggots of the Wheat-bulb Fly and those of the 
Frit Fly (noticed at pp. 34—43) are much alike so far as method of 
injury is concerned. In both cases the maggots feed in the centre of 
the young growing shoots, and thus destroy them, and the two kinds 
of whitish maggots also look very similar to the naked eye, but when 
examined with even a moderately powerful glass the differences may 
be clearly distinguished. The Wheat-bulb maggot thus seen is 
whitish, legless, cylindrical, and somewhat lessened towards the head 
end, which is furnished with two black mouth-hooks. The tail 
extremity is furnished above with two black spots, which are the 
spiracles (or breathing-pores), by which air is drawn into the very 
observable trachea (or air-tubes). Beneath, that is at the lowest part, 
the tail segment projects, and ends in two square teeth placed centrally, 
with one pointed tooth, and sometimes more on the outside of the 
central square pair. These teeth and the absence of a little bunch of 
stalked spiracles near the head appear to me to be the simplest way 
of knowing the Wheat-bulb from the Frit maggots, but as it may be 
desirable to have the scientific description I append it below.* 
The chrysalids were somewhat oval or spindle-shaped, of a medium 
shade of brown, with the two spiracles still projecting, and always 
very plainly noticeable at the tip of the tail, in the form of two little 
knobs. 
The flies are two-winged, and not altogether unlike the well-known 
Onion Fly in general appearance. 
More particularly noticed, they are as described by Mr. R. H. 
Meade: males with the thorax grey, the sides lighter, and the dorsum 
* Hylemia coarctata, Fall.—“ The maggot is cylindrical, a little narrowed in 
front, glassy and shining. Both the mouth-hooks of equal length.” The caudal 
segment is described as having below four fleshy projections, those in the middle 
four-cornered with flat borders, the side ones tooth-like ; the slope (“ abdachung ”) 
is similarly set with little teeth of variable form.”—‘ Praktische Insekten Kunde.’ 
By Dr. E. L. Taschenberg. Pt. IV. p. 119. 
