10 THE WHEAT-STEM MAGGOT. 
steps are taken to prevent it a repetition may become ruin- 
ously large in 1893.” 
Most farmers plowed their fields during the fall of 1892 
or early in 1893, and consequently the losses in the latter 
year were small, and in 1894 but very few of these insects 
could be found. Thespring of this year, being very wet, 
prevented extensive plowing, and the insects not being dis- 
turbed or plowed under again became a pest and caused 
considerable damage. The name ‘‘Frit-fly’’ is a well de- 
served one, as the Swedish farmers call the worthless grain 
resulting from the attacks of such flies: ‘‘frits.”’ 
The life-history of this insect is still very obscure in 
many points and careful work is required to learn it. 
THE WHEAT-STEM MAGGOT. 
(Meromyza americana Fitch). 
This insect (plate XIV) has again been destructive in 
many parts of Minnesota, and it threatens to become in the 
future a serious enemy to our crops of small grains. In’ 
some parts of the state the late sown rye, which had made 
but little growth during the autumn and which grew slowly 
in spring, was greatly damaged, in some cases to the extent 
of one-tenth of the crop. Wheat did not entirely escape, 
and the plants infested by the insects showed their presence 
by their small size and general weakly appearance. An ac- 
count of the life-history of this insect was given in last year’s 
report, so it is not necessary to discuss now its habits in de- 
tail. Many points in this life-history are still obscure; as 
yet we do not even know how this insect passes the winter 
in Minnesota, or where. In 1896 it could be found in many 
regions of the state, and the prominent white ‘‘bald heads’”’ 
were not difficult to find. Large numbers of the infested 
stalks, especially those of rye, were kept in proper vessels to 
see whether parasites were numerous enough to promise 
assistance in the near future. But few were discovered, 
however, and thus far the only remedy we have is a syste- 
matic rotation of crops. 
