Middletown transcript., 1899-12-02
THE HEssIAN FLY.
A Destructive Pest Which Appears In Early
Sown,Wheat.

/ S0WHr WH6dts
Prof. ". G. johnson, State Entomologist,
says: MANY farmers are now congratu-
lating themselves upon their fine stand of
lsearly-sown fine wheat They say: Tt is
unusually green and well slooled They
are correct in their observation, but they
have not seen the most important factor.
which is the direct cause of the stooling.
A few weeks hence, or perhaps few days,
the green blades will fade to yellowish,
sickly color, and at or below the surfacl
Of the ground, behind the leaf sheaths vile
appear knotiy swelling showing more or
less dark color through the sheath. If the
sheath or blade is stripped of, number of
brownish objects will be seen. In size,
shape and color they resemble faxseeds.
They look harmless, but within this brown
case, snugly tucked away, sleeps the
greatest enemy of the wheat grower. 1t
is the cradle of the Hessian fly. From this
'aaxseed' the adult fly, a gnat like creature,
will appear next spring and deposit its tiny
eggs upon the leaf for another brood. If
the wheat is well stooled' and remains
green this fall, look out next spring, as it
may ripen before it heads.
During the past week sI have had
number of inquiries about the cause Of
sickly yellowish wheat. In every instance
where samples accompanied the inquiry 1
found an abundance of 'faxseed cradles
containing the slumbering Hessian infants
The most important question in these
letters is, What shall we dor In very
many instances it would be hopeless task
to attempt 10 save the wheat. 1t is case
of Ny brother is sick, what shall I do2'
But before doing anything the case must be
diagnosed. 1t is very hard to doctor sick
wheat. especially when it has the yellow
fever with faxseeds in its throat
'Under ordinary circumstances the field
might be pastured with sheep this fall; but
if the wheat is very yellow at this time it
might just as well be plowed down in the
spring. rolled and narrowed and planted in
corn. would not advise blowing up badly |
infested wheat this fall. If you consider it
a hopeless case, pasture it this fall and
plow 1t early next spring before the sleep
ing beauties come out for their sun bath.
In the future be more cautious about |
seeding and do not SOW too early. There |
are years when late sown wheat is affected |
with fly also, but these periods are rare ex-
ceptions. A few notes about the habits of |
this notorious pest may not be amiss at this |
time. The following is from my bulletin |
mo. 58) on the Hessian fly:
" There are but two broods of the Hessian |
fly over large area of the United States |
one appearing in the spring and the other
in the fall. There is no question of doubt, |
however, about their being supplemental
broods, both in the spring and fall, particu-
larly in the Southern wheat area. In the
extreme Northern belt, where spring wheat
is largely grown, there may be only single
brood.
The faxseeds that have passed the win
ter in the fall wheat produce the winged
individuals which appear in the spring
iufing April and May, more abundantly
about the middle of the latter month. The
eggs are deposited usually on the upper
surface of the leaf With the spring brood
however, they are sometimes thrust beneath
The leaf sheath on the lower joints. A sim
gle female produces from 100 to $50 eggs,
and they are deposited in irregular rows Of
to 5 or more.
Matching from the eggs the young lar
rae imbed themselves beneath the sheath
Ind stem causing more or less distorted
'lant. The spring brood usually develops
q the lower joints near the ground. Under
,ertain conditions the insect may remain
in the faxseed state for a year or
more and still bring forth the adult. This
s, without doubt, provision of nature in
ended to prevent accidental extermination
If the species. The migrating brood is the
'ne which appears in the fall |; the spring
BROOD does not usually leave the field in
which it is developed