The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-31
PEST On THE WHEAT
Oklahoma Growers Dread the
Visitation.
Is LIKE HESSIAN FLY
But There Is Disagreement as
to Its Effect
HESSIAN FLY

Guthrie. o. T., May 30.-Crop observers
IN different sections of the territory have
simultaneously made the discovery of an
insect that threatens to do much damage
to the rapidly maturing wheat The pest
IS said TO resemble somewhat the Hes
sian fly. In Kay county, which is famous
for its wheat production, the situation is
already regarded as serious by the Ponca
City Courier which observes:
Wheat in Kay county seemed to be
getting along amazingly fine, each day
showing an increased prospect as harvest
approached, until Saturday reports began
TO come in that there was an insect at
work in feIdsd generally over the county
which was not familiar to most people,
bat which was said to be Hessian fly. It
was found in different stage Of growth
from a minute object which the eye could
scarcely distinguish, to fully developed
fly with long wings forked behind it.
Each head Of wheat has from 50 to 100,
and even more Of these little pests, and
they are found grouped around the base
Of the wheat meshes so close that there
is room for no more. They are all busy
at work sucking the sap from the filing
wheat The little fellows are quite green
in color and almost> transparent; the older
ones turn black or nearly SO.
There is some dispute as to the char
acter Of the pest; but that it is doing
damage there can be no question. En-
cyclopsdia Britaslica describes the Hes
sian fly thus 1.-THE perfect insect is
-
somewhat resembles dixie this insect now
hereD The larvae are spindle shaped and
reddish White( these are green with the
intestinal canal showing through the
skin (these are also transparency They
are about one-seventh of an inch long and
are provided with small hooks at the
head At this stage they group them
selvc in regular rings around the stem
they attack. CThis is a habit of this new
pest here) There ia another parasite
which feeds on the larvae Of the Hessian
fly and keeps it from propagating in too
great numbers ordinarily"
From the above. it would seem that
Kay county really has a visitation from
the Hessiap fly in great numbers.
What the result will be is hard to de-
termiDe So far the wheat does rot seem
10 have been seriously affected. but the
next eight OF ter days will tel 1.-The tale
Many think the fly will practically ruin
the crop. Others believe that the wet
weather has provided the straw with
strength enough to Doth fl che wheat
and feed the young insects.
Guthrie. O. II, May 30-The Oklahoma
City Times Journal says: A very small
Insect caused a great connection among
Oklahoma wheat growers during the past
three OF four days. About the middle OF
last week a small insect appeared upon
the wheat heads. 1t resembled in appear
Gnce the tree bug that infests willow
trees. and in its early stages il was
found clinging 10 the outside Of the grain
LUsk often in groups of four or five The
older ones seem to hold their moorincs
and scatter about on the wheat head The
fully developed insect resembles The gnats
that annoy the travelling public 50 much.
in some wheat fields the heads are
"lousy" while in others they are scatter
Ing and do not average one to the head
Al sorts Of rumors were current yester-
day. but after diligent inquiry we failed
Il find any proof that damage had been
done b ythis insect. Some mistook them
foc tire Hessian fly. and were great V
ugitated, fearing a total destruction Of
the crop, bur little inquiry showed that
the visitation was not the Hessian fly.