The commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-12
AGRICULTURE AL
(From the American Farmers Journal.)
THE WHEAT STEM FLY, AND
OTHER DEPREDATORs.

Pumilionis. -Perbaps this species has
not yet been identified on this continent
nevertheless it is quite certain that rum
erous insects belolging to the genus in
fest the wheat csIsS in America. a.
every kind of in ~ .nSston bearing ugear
the subject Of wheat cuiiafo and vbeai
depredators is to the utmost value Of the
farmer, the following notices to insect dep
redators, which may be met with in our
wheat fields, are subjoined. Their habits
and distribution have not been much
studied on this continent; it is to bs hoped
however, now that attention is painfully
drawn to the insects preying upon wheat,
that observers viii be found among us
jealous to record the approach and de
scribe the habits, life, and history, of the
unknown insect pests on the most valuable
cereal III
The wheat 8 TEN fly derives its name
from the color of its eyes, and the effect it
produces upon the plants it attacks. 1t
destroys the central shoots, and thus occa-
sions the dwarf ny of the many lateral
ones which are pushed out during the de-
cline of the main stem. These side shoots
are not only short in height, but carry a
small head irregularly filled with grains.
The color Of the hy is black; the under side
of the head and two narrow longitudinal
lines in the thorax yellow; under side Of
the body pale yellow, with two black spots
on the mesosternum; halteres or poisers
white; the legs ash gray, and black at the
tips; maggot small and whitei pupa yellow,
smooth, and shining, and rather more than
one twelfth Of an inch in length.
| 2. The American Meromyza Meromy-
"a Americana.-Fitcb. } Length about one
fifth Of an inch from lip to tip Of its wings;
c ,llor yellowish white with a black spot
on the top Of its head continued backward
toward the neck; thorax with three black
stripes; wings semi transparent eyes bright
green. Found in the latter part Of Juuc
g. The Obese Siphonella (Siphonella
Obesa.-Fitch.) About the size Of the
lt-s,on3ding insect; body short aud thick
iiess @ tawoy yrl preepsfSHdltsrilIips black
head yellowisBlow, wahstheiEe tawny yel-
low, their tips black; On egg shaped spo
on the crown. two dark stripes en- eacl
side Of the breast, and the anterior pair o
feet black.
The larvae Of these insects burrow u
the stalk, rendering them dwarfish, an.
often cau.ing the heads to perish; small
slender, pale greeu and watery white
shining maggots.
; 4. The common Chlorops (Chlorop
Vulgaris. Fitch. Length about one iiftl
of an inch from tip to tip Of its wings; col
or pale tawny yellow with a round blael
a spot on the top Of its head; til's Of antenns
I aud feelers black; two black bristles
the end Of tho middle shanks and one
S the end of the forward ones, with rows Q
! black bristles upon the tboraxi on the to
! of the head two pairs ofbristlesincl'ne fol
d ward and two backward.
II s. The Shank Banded Oscinis (Oscin
tibialis,-Fitch.) The Yellow Hipfe
Il Osciuis coxepdix Fitch. The thick-leg
b ged Osciuis (crassifcmoris.-F Fitch.-Se'
l. eral Of the above species have been me
% with on wheat in the State Of New-forl
N too little is known of them, however,
ID make further remarks upon them neee
ID sary.
ne g. The deceiving Wheat Fly (Hymely
O. deceptiva-Fitch) Very common IN u
or latter p rt of June in Eastern New for
We A quarter Of all inch in length from tip
ut tip Of its wings. Color ash gray, legs, a
c: tenne, and feelers black, Aro. ol bro'
cd black spots from an intercepted str
th down the middle Of its abdomen. A ia
=. ny yellow spot upon the trout OF the th'
Ak, passing into black stripe upon t
e. top Of the head.
as 4. The Similar Wheat Fly, (Hyme
: similis.-Fitch The Wheat Nov +
Argromgza tf psi, Fi.s3) showing
NJ lals9esf{ the fol - N2f1f le IN
gots srawling frSs .s's IsIsutioss
osa after il is placed in the bafHs z
me OF the grain shriyelled and dwarhsh
vas Tie flies are like the common house
ner very much reduced in size. Color bla
iad with pale reddish yellow band upon
al trout, above the base Of the antenn@l
10 the mouth margincd with dull yelloE
li- The legs, brownish black. The VT
her notched on their outer margin, near
hy base.
ed, s. The Wheat Thrips (Thrips tritici
wn Fitch.) The Three-handed Thrips e
lieu eothrips trifasciata.- Fitch. Found
So on the heads and stalks Of wheat in ]
er- and July, exhaustng tue juices of
: kernels, and rendering them dwarfsb
a, l shriyelled, exceedingly minute. long
tue narrow, six-legged insects, Of br
me yellow or of shining black color
'aia active, First noticed by DR.. Fitch
specimens sent from Wisconsin, July
IN 1855, where it was causing some al
put in the neighborhood of Geneva. Ia
'u, in the blossoms Of wheat aud clover.
rieli rhrips cerealium is most destruct "
my sect, aud is said to have destroyed
eau 1905, onc-third of the wheat crop in
ssia edmont According to Mr.. Kirby,
!. by far the most numerous Of any 10
hi' upon the wheat in England. lie doe
ant think he ever examined an ear Of "
'ner without meeting With it.
CON PERsoSAI Collisions At wMHINsroS -Th
NOT records two personal collisions which occur
49,, Washington on Friday evening. The frs
sban between the Hon. Thos. T. Dlwic, Of Md
,nod Mr.. A. S. II. White ofihat city. saTeral
,len- were exchanged. bat no serious damage do
who Tho second was between Mr. Lander, Ia
belle civil engineer attached to the government d
she road expedition, and Mr. wm.H, Migas
cold, ate superintendent Of The road.
a.