Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-25
AGRICULTURAL.
ACCOUNT OF THE HEsSlAN FL,

Wheat being the great staple OF our farmers. anv
thing affecting its culture, will therefore be interest
ing not only to the farmer but the whole commuu
ty; and as the fly is, of all the enemies OF tina,
precious grain, the most formidable, shor, history
of it may not be amiss. Here is description from
the pen, we believe, of w. GAYLORD:
sit is very small black insect. not 50 large as
moscheto, with two fine transparent wings. from
the roots OF which three ribs diverge as through the
leaf oil plant. The body, when examined by
miscroscope, is found to be divided into four segments
with few hairs observable OH each. The LEGS are
or yeliowish cast and transparent; the head in
hected with u short proboscis.
This, as Is common with nearly all other insects
passes through four distinct stages of existence ls
the egg I'd, the larva: Sd, pupa dormant stage
anu 9TH, the perfect Or winged insect In this part
of the country it passes through two generations in
one season, and attacks the wheat both i'm spring
and autumn. The fly, or perfect insect, deposites
the eggs in autumn, soon after the young plants an
pear above ground, between the lowest part of the
leaf and that part which forms the stem and as
near the ground us possible. 1t resen,uies at frs,
very small white nit, and as it grows larger he
comes sluggish almost inanimate maggot of a
white color. In this state the proper and most na-
tural food is the sap of that kind OF green wheat
which has the most delicate straw. 1t remains in
this situation during the whole winter apparently
IN this chrysas state. without suffering any injury
from the frost or snow and in the spring, soon
as the weather becomes warm enough. and gener-
ally about the time vegetation has fairly commenced
1t Is transformed into the fly In this state it per
forms the functions necessary for Il continuation of
Its species. 1t lays its eggs between the straw or
stem and the sheath, which cncloscs it. rs before
described, and dies-and new generation succeeds
These eggs are soon Matched by the warmth of
the season, and the young insects may be discover
cd in the form of small white maggots. within the
sheath of the straw and just above the lower Joint
They here continue to feed on the sap and tender
hbres OF the plant, by reason of which it either
withers and dies is s,intcd i'm its growth so that
the grain does not arrive at maturity. They are
changed into the pupa state before harvest and at
this season while the wheat is vet green their pre-
sence may be readily detected by walking throuob
the field, and pressing the heads with the finoers
those which feel soft and untitled with Grains
are those which have been injured by the insect .
And if such stalks he examined they will be found
near the lower joints, somewhat resembling flax
seed, but smaller and slenderer. and of adark brown
color. They continue i'm this state until after bar
vest. and may be found upon the stubbe in the field
early they pass into their winged state, and Law
their eggs in the young plants of wheat as before
described. When the fly is about to issue from
the pupa state into that of perfect insect it dis
engages itself by boring small round hole THROUGH
the brown case in which it is enclosed and throuSh
the sheath of the wheat just opposite to the place
where 1T lodged, and this hole may easily be dis
covered as long as the stubble remains entire"