The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-16
HESS|AN FLY IN
THE MONTEREY
GRAIN FIELDS
DR.. II. II. Behr Exam
ines the Nudge.
NO CAUSE FOP SERIOUS ALARM
THE PEST CAN BE READILY DE-
STROYED.
It Has Appeared Before i'll California
and Failed to Thrive-Outline
of It's Peculiar Character
and History.
THE PEST CAN BE READILY DE-
STROYED.

The farmers of Monterey County and
ing much ado about little over the ap-
pearance in the grain of poisonous
insect known as the Hessian fly. 1t
has been demonstrated beyond ques-
ton that the destructive nudge found
on the farms near Salinas is the Hes
sian fly. Specimens of the insect were
sent to DR.. H. H Behr, one of the
most accomplished entomologists on
the coast, and yesterday he submitted
the results of his examination. He
finds that the insect is the Hessian fly,
but that fact calls for no expression of
great alarm.
1t was reported that the insect had
never before made it's appearance in
this State, and if it really had come it
had been imported from Australia or
Europe The alarmists declared that
the nudge worked with devastating
energy in the grain and multiplied with
terrible rapidity. All sorts of disasters
were predicted to the crops of the
State and the results of DR.. Behr's ex-
animation were awaited with anxiety.
The farmers of Monterey may now
mems of the insect furnished to DIR.
Behr were not sufficient to enable him
to determine to just what species of the
Hessian fly the specimens belong, the
entomologist satisfied himself that they
are really Hessian flies.
DR.. Behr says that While the insects
are by no means beneficial they are not
devastating and are easily destroyed.
They are natives of this State and were
not imported either from Europe or
Australia. DR.. Behr suspects that the
Hessian fly received its popular name
from the fact that it was never found
in Hessia 1t has fiourished in Hun
gary and as already Indicated is one
of the undesirable natives of this State,
It's first appearance, as far as known,
was in 1873 when it was easily and
quickly eradicated. Two or three times
after it appeared, but made no great
damage and after simple remedies were
applied disappeared. 1t was seen as
late as 1897, but created no great alarm.
DR.. Behr suggests that the best way,
or one of the most effective methods to
DESTROY it is to burn the stubble of the
grain in which it has appeared. I'm
less 1t appears IN tremendous HuIilpeiS
it is not completely destructive 1t par
TALLY destroys the quality of the grain,
but it does not spread rapidly and does
not thrive we'll in the climate of Cali
fornia The insect lives also on wild
grasses and is nothing more or less
than tiny nudge of the same class
as the mosquito. 1t generally appears
in two species, but DR.. Behr did not
determine which of these was presented
to him. He does not intend to make
any further examination as one would
be unnecessary.
The farmers of Monterey may silence
their fears therefore of a plague and
the farmers of the State need take no
unnecessary alarm. While the Hessian
fly is not a pleasant or desirable visit
or it lives only a few weeks. 1t is
about one-seventh of an inch in length
and is not unlike a small gnat. 1t is
a matter of some difficulty to tell when
the pest has been extermlnated, but
where it's appearance is no more serious
than it is at Monterey the remedy sug-
gested and subsequent care Will drive
ont the insect.