WHEAT-BULB MAGGOT. 
81 
(back) indistinctly striped; the abdomen hairy, oblong, narrow, flat 
and cinereous, with an indistinct narrow dorsal stripe ; anal segment 
grey; subanal appendages hairy, with two black lamellae ; wings with 
narrow veins ; legs black, with pale tibia. The females have both the 
thorax and abdomen pale ash-grey and immaculate, and the four 
posterior femora, as well as the tibiae, pale.* 
The injury to the plants was caused by the maggot feeding within 
the young stem, and thus causing the death of the infested shoot 
from the joint effect of the gnawing of the maggot and the consequent 
decay of the attacked part. The damage that was going on was 
observed, or at least began to be reported, first, with specimens 
accompanying, about May 7th, when I found that the maggots, being 
full fed, were leaving the infested shoots; from this time to May 80th, 
I received daily, or almost daily, packets of infested plants. Towards 
the latter part of the month the maggots were turning to chrysalis 
condition, but the Fly itself did not emerge until the beginning of 
July from chrysalids which were being kept under observation, though, 
judging by dates given in German observations, it is likely that it took 
a much shorter time to develop when in natural circumstances. The 
first communication on the subject was sent me on May 7th, by Mr. 
Joseph Drewer, of Weston-on-Avon, Stratford-on-Avon, with the 
remark—“ The wheat-plants I am sending you are taken from a field 
the entire crop of which is taken by a small grub which you will find 
in the stem of the plant.” These maggots corresponded exactly with 
the description of those of Hylemia coarctata, and were apparently full 
fed, as I secured the infested plants with some earth, and on May 10th, 
on examining the earth, I found a good many maggots in it. 
On May 10th Mr. D. Tompkins, of Aveley Hall, Romford, reported 
that he had a field of Wheat which had gone off very much lately, and 
on examination he found in the thick part of the stalk a small white 
maggot. These Wheat-plants were about four and a half inches high, 
and the injury was caused by the maggot feeding in the stem a little 
above the root. 
On May 15th specimens apparently just turning to chrysalids were 
sent me by Mr. Jos. Paisley, from Waresley, near St. Neots. One of 
the maggots was slightly changed to a brown tint, and they lay as 
usual,—that is, in the Wheat-shoot a little above the root, the centre 
of the shoot being severed and the inside decaying. 
On May 14th Mr. Drewer sent further notes regarding the presence 
of attack, nature of preceding crops, and date of sowing of attacked 
Wheat. He mentioned that on going over a different part of Warwick¬ 
shire, on Saturday (May 12th), he found a great number of fields 
* “ Annotated List of British Anthomyiidae,” fey B H. Meade. ‘ Entomologist’s 
Monthly Magazine,’ March 1882. 
