The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-24
HESSIAN Fly PEST
Practical Means of Fighting
Off the Demon.
MANY METHODS TRIED
But Still the Bug 0utwits the
Man.
MANY METHODS TRIED

Manhattan, Kan, Aug. 23-Professor
EDWIN a. Ponenoe. head Of the depart
ment Of entomology of the Kansas ex-
perimental station, has issued the follow
ing bulletin on the Hessian fly.
During the season past the Hcssian fly
has caused some loss and much comment
in parts of the Kansas wheat belt, and
numerous letters Of inquiry reaching the
Kansas experiment station have shown
the need of wider popular information
on this subject. An extended account Of
the insect appears in the chronological
bulletin No. 16 Of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. which should be
consulted by those interested in full de-
tails of life history. For practical pur-
poses. however, the methods Of prevent
i've procedure are sill the practices rec
commended by the earlier winters
Concerning the value Of burning the
stubble, and thus destroying the con-
tanned pupae Of the fly, opinion is some
what divided. If done at once after har-
vestng, especially in fields where the
header was used, this method is certainly
effective, Il practiced by the neighbor-
hood in general But by burning, not
only are the pupae of the fly destroyed,
but the contained parasites as well,
whose aid is a most important factor af-
ter all. in the subjugation of the pest.
Moreover. the burning Of the stubble,
IN the opinion Of some wheat growers,
robs the soil Of important physical, if
not manurial, constituents, which should
be Incorporated by blowing under the
stubble and not be destroyed by burning.
Early blowing of the stubble ground, as
soon as possible after harvest. If the
ground be compacted afterwards by har-
rowing or rolling, will serve the same
end with less loss in this respect.
Considered in all relations, where one
method alone is followed, it is best. in the
writer's opinion, to depend upon late
sowing. The adult insect des and lays
eggs according to the season earlier or
later in the fall, but cannot withstand the
frost; and wheat appearing after the first
yhite frost Of the season will be free
from attack. This fact is confirmed by
the present years experience Of cores
pOndents Of the Kansas station. Early
sown areas, on the other hand, win some
times be found so badly infested, through
the massing of the insects thereon, that
the wintering Of the plant VIII be a
matter of doubt
IF egg deposit be delayed by the alb
sence of suitable plants. the 1es viii re
main alive for some time in waiting but
! If proper opportunity is provided the eggs
| are laid at once and the insects then die.
Small areas or strips through fields in in
tested localities may be seeded early, as
trap crops. and after egg deposit these
may be plowed under, destroying the gen
| eral seeding of the field.
Against the spring brood, which weak
ems the stock and lightens the grain, lit
tie can be done except by means TO limit
tn winter brood of larvae. The thorough
destruction of volunteer wheat. accompa-
MED by late seeding, through their re-
duction Of the numbers of insects winter
ing over. are the most practical means.
owing to the situation OF the larvae
down in the crown of the plant, there is
little possibility of valuable results from
pasturing the wheat during fall and win
ter Where fields are pastured early,
chance eggs may be destroyed before
Matching. but the advantage thus gained
VIII be slight. If any.
1T is the combination of early sown
trap strips with general late seeding that
is recommended for practice by Kansas
wheat growers"