February, ’24] 
PETERSON: CHEMOTROPISM OF HYLEMYIA 
87 
SOME CHEMICALS ATTRACTIVE TO ADULTS OF THE ONION 
MAGGOT, (. HYLEMYIA ANTIQUA MEIG.) AND THE SEED 
CORN MAGGOT (. HYLEMYIA Cl LI CRURA ROND .) 1 
By Alvah Peterson 
Abstract 
The adults, males and females, of the onion maggot, Hylemyia antiqua Meig. and 
the seed corn maggot, Hylemyia cilicrura Rond, are attracted in large numbers to 
sweetened baits containing small amounts (1-2 drops to 5 cc.) of several alcohols, 
particularly allyl alcohol, iso propyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and butylic alcohol. 
Allyl alcohol and iso propyl alcohol were the most attractive. These alcohols mixed 
with honey and water as a medium were most attractive. 
Sweetened media, particularly molasses, honey or brown sugar, containing yeasts 
(made with wet yeast, “Fleischmans Yeast” or dry yeast, ‘‘Magic Yeast” or ‘‘Yeast 
Foam”) also proved to be highly attractive to both species of flies. 
The baits containing alcohols lost their attractiveness as soon as the alcohol 
evaporated. This usually occurred 24 to 48 hours after they were placed in the 
field. Baits containing yeasts remained attractive 14 to 21 days or longer provided 
they were not allowed to become dry. 
Sodium arsenite added to baits containing alcohols in amounts as large as % ounce 
to 1 quart of bait did not bring about a perceptible change in the attractiveness of 
the bait while this amount of sodium arsenite added to yeast baits apparently killed 
the yeast organism for there was a marked diminution in the attractiveness of the 
bait, particularly with yeast baits made from dry yeast. In a number of experiments, 
where sodium arsenite was used, at the rate of % ounce to 5 quarts of the bait, es¬ 
pecially where wet yeast was employed, the attractiveness of the bait was not ma¬ 
terially reduced. Further experiments may show that very small amounts of sodium 
arsenite (sufficient to kill the flies) may be added to sweetened yeast baits without 
dimininishing the attractiveness of the bait. 
Introduction 
During the spring and early months of 1923 the author investigated 
the chemotropic response of the adults of the onion maggot, Hylemyia 
antiqua Meig., and the seed com maggot, Hylemyia cilicrura Rond., to 
numerous odors. He is indebted to Dr. T. J. Headlee for this oppor¬ 
tunity. Those odors which attracted flies were more thoroughly 
studied than those which repelled. This preliminary report summarizes 
the information ascertained to date. No attempt is made to prove by 
extensive tables or graphs the facts presented. Further study is de¬ 
sirable and a larger publication is needed before a satisfactory and 
complete presentation of the information can be made. It is hoped 
that some of the information contained in this summary may be useful 
to investigators who are interested in the development of a control 
measure for these pests. 
Taper No. 147 of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, 
Department of Entomology. 
