The Hessian Fly

Bruce Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2646, 3 May 1895, Page 1

The Hessian Fly

The Hessian fly may be taken as a striking illustration of the principle that the worst pests, so far from being conspicuous and easily recognisable species, are usually obscure and often very minute. The Hessian fly is, in fact, an insect of such insignificant appearance that none but a trained c-jitomologiafc would be likely to suspect, on seeing it, tbat it was capable of becoming a serious plague. It is merely a minute two-winged fly, belonging to the family of gall-goata It is a fragile insect, not more th m one sixth of an inch in length of body, and its fullyexpanded wings stretch only about twice that distance. It is difficult to realise that a creature bo minufee and so delicate can possibly be the author of any serious amount of damage. And yet, that it ia one of the most formidable foes the growers of cereal crops have to encounter is, unfortunately, only too true. The scene of its greatest destructiveneea bas hitherto been America, ifc having spread from west to east and from north to south over the greater part of the United States, — * Knowledge,'