Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-13

and the root the stalks on which they fasten
grow no more they become yellow and dry |
up. We suffered the same injury in 1882,
when these insects appeared in the middle
of May, and did suA damage that the crops
were almost annihilated." This passage
was quoted by Col. Morgan, (Carcy's Amer.
Mus. 1857. j. 53O,) in the belief that the in
sect described was tho Ecssian fly. The
description is too imperfect TO authorize a
positive assertion, but there seems to be little
doubt that his opinion is correct.
In 1888, Mr.. Dana sailed for the Medit-
crancan in the U. S. Delaware. An oppor-
tunity was thus afforded him 10 make person.
al exploration for the Ilessian fly among
the wheat fields Of the old world a. work
for which he was well prepared by his thor
its various stages. His examinations were
rewarded with the most gratifying success,
for they prove that the Hcssion fly is an in
habitont of Europe. On the thirteenth Of
March, 1884, and subsequently, he collcc-
ted several larve and pupm, from wheat
plant growing in field on the island Of Mi
norca. From these pupT were evolved on
the 10th of March, 1884, two individuals
ofan insect which his rccollcctions, (aided
by drawing of the Hcssian fly with which
he was provdcd,) enabled him to pronounce
to be the Occidomyia Destructor. More Of
the pcriactinsects were evolved in the course
of the month, one of which deposited eggs
| like those of the IIcssian fly. In lettes da-
ted Mahon, April and 81, 1884, Mr.. D..
sent me five of the insects and several of the
pupn. They arrived in safety, and after a
careful examination, ] saw no good reason
to doubt the identity of this insect with the
IIcssan fly. The Mahonesc asserted that
the insect had been there from time imme-
mortal, and often did great damage both
here and in Spain. On the 2Slh of April,
1884, Mr. d. collected from wheat field
Just without the walls Of the city of Toulon,
IN France, several pupa and ono larva like
those before obtained. On the 4th of June,
1884, he obtained similar pupn from wheat
field near Naples. About the period of MIR.
Dana's investigations in the south of Europe,
attention was turned to the jury caused by
certain larvI among the wheat in Hungary.
1t apears now to be commonly believed, that
their parent insect is either our Hcssian fly,
or animal very closely allied to it.
have searched in vain for any traces of
the Hessian fly in this country before the
Revolution. The Rev. Jared Eliot, in his
g Essays upon Field IIusbandry IN New
England" Boston, 1850, treats of the cul-
ture of wheat, but makes no allusion to any
insect having habits like those af the Hes
sian fly; neither does Kahn, the naturalist,
who travelled in this country about 1850.
am therefore inclined to consider the common
opinion of the origin of the insect quite as
probable as any other which has been adj
vanccd.
In this part of our country, wheat is usu-
ally sown about the first of September. Soon
after the plants arc up the Iicssian fly begins
to lay her eggs upon them, and continues
her operations for several weeks She de-
posts her eggs on the upper surface of the
leaf ii. c. the Hguia, or strap-shaped portion
of the lcaf) of the plant The number on
a single leaf is often twenty or thirty, aud
sometimes much greater In these cases
many of the Larvae must perish. The egg
is about a iiltieih of an inch long, and -four
hundredth Of on inch in diameter, cyindri-
cal, translucent, and of a pale red color
In about four days the egg matches; the
young arva crccps down the leaf, enters the
sheath, and with the head downwards, fas-
tens upon the tender cum or stalk, gener-
ally just above some Joint. The larva APP
pears to feed solely on the sap of the plant
it does not gnaw the stalk, and never enters
it, but is gradually imbcdded in it as the
plant natures. Having taken its post, the
larva is stationary it gradually loses its red
dish color, becomes translucent and clouded
:, with white spots, and when near maturity,
the central part within is of a greenish hne
In about five or six weeks, Tor longer if tho
season is cold,) the larva begins to assume &
brownish ,inge, and soon is of bright chcs.
nut color, when the insect may be said to
have reached the state of pupa. Ii has lher
some resemblance of "A flaX-seed. The out
cr skin of the larya becomes the pupariun
of the pupa. The wheat plant is injuret
by the loss Of sap, but principally by til,
pressure of the larva and pupa on the culm
\ single arva will do little harm, and ma,
even be useful by stimulating the plant t
throw outside shoots; but five or six o
them are sufficient seriourly to check thu
growth of the plant, or perhaps to dcslro,
, i, entirely.
During the winierthe insect is in the pup;
\ state, near the root of the wheat plant. ant
usually a little below the snlfacc of the earth
In April and May we again find the Hessial
: fly laying eggs on the young wheat, bot
that which was sown in the autumn prcviou
A and the spring wheat, which is of course re
= Gently up. The larva from these eggs be
: come pupa about the middle Of June.
There is no difficulty in tracing the insec
e as far as the state of pupa, and to tins poin
5 gardntg me Ta'if5as'0rlN.aFeGiained.v u. Re
perfect insect, there is, however, some obs
$ curty, which numerous observations hav
not wholly cleared up. The difficulty result
=. in part from the fact that in the region,
u very large proportion, probably more than
nine-tenths, Of every generation Of the Hes
sion fly, is destroyed by parasites. A grea
: part Of the pupa which may be collected
: will evolve some parasitic insect, instead O
5 the llessian fly. 1t is certain that sometime
the puma which became 50 in Junp pyoIy,