Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-09-14
TIE HEssIAN FLY II
WHEAT.

II. T. Fernald, PHI. D., Economic |
Zoologist, of the State of Pennsylvania |
sends out the following article on the
Hessian fly, which we publish for bene-
fit of the farmers Of the county.
This insect, which is very abundant
in Pennsylvania, is often known as the
'sfy" or the "wheat fly" 1t is re-
sponsible for large amount of loss
each year, often destroying one-quarter
Of the crop and is particularly injurious
in wet seasons.
There are two brOods of this insect
each year. The winged fly appears i'm
August and September, and searches
for the young winter wheat to lay its
eggs on. and places them ON the leaf
blades, anywhere from one to thirty on
blade. In four or five days the eggs
hatch and the young maggots crawl
down the blade, enter the sheath and
pass down to the joint. Here they
stay, sucking the juice from the plant
until about the end of November, when
they turn brown, and harden. This is
called the haX-seed stage. In this con-
ditiOn they pass the winter. In the
spring, about the middle or end of
April, they change to the full grown
form, the winged fly. These, at once,
begin to lay their eggs as before, and
the history as already given for the fall
brood is repeated the flies from this
brood, appearing in August and Sep
tember TO lay the eggs on the winter
wheat This, in brief, is the life history
of the Hessian fly.
From what has been given, it is plain
that there is no treatment OF the seed
which will do any good, nor is spraying
of any possible use. Treatment here
must be in other lines.
The best thing to do for the protec-
ton of the wheat from the fly is:
! l. Plant a small piece of wheat early
III August 80 that it may come up early
and be found by the flies when looking
for place to lay their eggs. This piece
will, OF course, ,be full of maggots later.
About the end OF September plow this
under, and do no. use the ground for
wheat the next year. BY this method
the flies will lay their eggs i'll this early
wheat and as they die after egg laying,
few will be left.
,. Do not plant the wheat except
the small piece just spoken Of, until
about September Goth; by that time al
| H,r
there will be none left to lay their eggs
when the wheat comes up.
There is tendency in Pennsylvania,
as well as elsewhere, for the farmer
each year to get his sowing done little
earlier than the year before. This is
directly favorable TO the fly. Wheat
sown as late as September Goth, will
make growth enough so that it will not
winter-kill, and this method has been
tried in States farther north than Penn
syivania for many years with success.
3. Some kinds of wheat are les, at
tackled by the fly than others. Rolling
the field, with heavy roller, when the
fields are smooth and free from stones,
about the first of October, is of value in
some cases, Letting sheep Craze on
the fields as soon as two OF three blades
from each root appear, also helps, the
sheep eating the eggs of the fly, along
with the leaves. Crops on poor land
usually suffer most hence the use Of
fertilizers To enrich, the soil, aids in
4 keeIkng down the INJECT.
t. Where the fly is already in the
wheat, cutting little higher than usual
and p,owing the stubb!e under at once,
will kill the insects before they have
changed to the winged stage. Burning
The stubbie is also beneficial at this
time.
The hy must be killed or starved.
To kill as many as possible, plant a
small piece early as a trap for the fly to
lay It's eggs on, then plow it under and
thus kill the eggs from which the spring
brood comes.
To starve the iiy 30 not plant until
about September 10th, 50 that the fly
will die before it can find any wheat Il
lay it, eggs Oh.
II both these methods are used to-
gether, and i all who raise wheat il
any region will work together 10 dc this
but little trouble from the pest should
occur.
Many farmers in the State are follow.
ing this plan already, and with gooC
+ success. One writes: ~ plant traI
piece early, and my main crop late. ant
, am never troubled with the fly, while
some of the farmers iii this township
sometimes lose one-quarter of thei
CROP"
If results like this can be obtained in
such AL easy way it will certainly pay
10 try these methods.