Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-01
The Hessian Fly.

Prof. W. G. johnson. State Entottologist
of the Maryland Agricultural College, says ;
"Many farmers are now congratulattng
themselves upon their fine stand OF early
sown fall wheat They say: 1t Is unusually
green and well stooled.' They are correct
IN their observation, but they have not seen
the most important factor, which is the di-
rect cause of the stooling. A few weeks
hence, or perhaps few days, the green
blades will fade to a yellowish, sickly color,
and at or below the surface OF the ground,
behind the leaf sheaths, will appear kuotty
swelling showing more or less dark color
through the sheath. IL the sheath or blade
is stripped of, a number Of brownish objects
will be seen In size, shape and color they
resemble Aaxseeds. They look harmless,
but within this brown case, snugly tucked
away, sleeps the greatest enemy OF the wheat
grower. II is the cradle Of the Hessian fly.
From this 'Aaxseed' the adult hy, a gnat
like creature, will appear next spring and
deposit its tiny eggs upon the leaf for an
other brood. II the wheat is we'll s'ooled'
and remains green this fall, look out next
spring, as 1t may ripen before II heads.
During the past week have had mum
Der Of inquiries about the cause OF sickly
yellowish wheat. In every instance where
samples accompanied the inquiry found an
abundance of faxseed cradles containing the
slumbering Hessau infants The most i'm
portant question in these letters is, What
shall we dor In very many instances 1t
would be hopeless task to attempt to save
the wheat. 1t is a case of my brother is sick A.,
what shall | dor But before doing any
thing the case must be diagnosed. Il is
very hard 70 doctor sick wheat, especially
when II has the yellow fever with haxseeds
In its throat
"Uuder 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. II you consider it a
hopeless case, pasture il this fall and pillow
1t early next spring before the sleeping beau
ties come out for their sun bath.
''ln the future be more cautious about
seeding aud 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 post may not be amiss at this
time. The following Is from my bulletin
No 1857 on the Hessan fly:
"'Thers are but two broods of the Hessian
fly over large area of the United States, one
tuo Otuot III tuo
fall There 10 no question Of doubt, how
ever, about there being supplemental broods,
both in the spring and fall particularly In
the Southern wheat area. In the extreme
Northern belt, where spring wheat is largely
grown, there may be only single brood.
80 The faIseeds that have passed the
winter in the fall wheat produce the winged
individuals which appear in the spring dur
ing 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 leai
sheath on the lower joints. A sin gle female
produces 100 to $50 eggs, and they are de-
posted in irregular rows of from to OF
more
"Hatchng from the eggs the young larvae
imbed themselves beneath the sheath and
stem causing more or less distorted plant
The spring brood usually develops in the
lower joints near the ground. Under GER
tain conditions the insect may remain dor.
mant 10 the faxseed state for II year or more
aud still bring forth the adult. This Is
without doubt, Il provision Of nature In
tended to prevent accidental determination
OF the species. The migrating brood Is the one
which appears 10 the fall the spring brood
d 1es not usually leave the fold in which 1t
is developed"