A LITTLE-KNOWN ASPARAGUS PEST.* 
Agromyza simplex Loew. 
F. A. SIrrinp. 
SUMMARY, 
The asparagus miner is not generally known as an injurious 
pest to asparagus, its work being first observed in the fall of 
1896. 
There are two distinct broods of the miner on Long Island. 
At present the only known means of controlling the increase 
of this pest is pulling the old stalks after they have been killed 
by frost and burning them. 
INTRODUCTION. 
During the fall of 1896 the author accompanied the Station 
Botanist on a tour of inspection of the asparagus fields for aspara- 
gus rust. While in the fields some plants were pulled to ascer- 
tain if the rust occurred on the portion of the stalk below the 
surface of the ground. Many stalks were found to have the 
puparia of some fly buried beneath the epidermis especially in 
the portion of the stalk which was below the surface of the 
eround. Some of the material was preserved for breeding, but 
the lack of a suitable place, at that time, for keeping such mate- 
rial so that it would not get too dry, resulted in our failing to 
breed the adults. During the past year the adult fly was reared 
from some of the old, infested stalks collected early in May. 
This pest has no common name. Possibly “ asparagus miner” 
would be appropriate. ‘ 

*Reprint of Bulletin No. 189. 
*KXindly verified for the author by Mr. D. W. Coquillet, Waahtugeans 
D. C. 
ee Sa 
