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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

The Crane Fly (Daddy Long-Legs). Tipula oleracea. Linn

page 22

The Crane Fly (Daddy Long-Legs). Tipula oleracea. Linn

Fig. VI.

Fig. VI.

1, larva; 2, empty pupa case; 3, perfect insect; 4, eggs.

Every one knows this long-legged awkward fly, called Daddy Long-legs. It is also known as the Crane fly, as Curtis says, on account of its beaked head. It is a general destroyer of crops, and an omnivorous feeder upon farm and garden productions, attacking all kinds of corn, grass, turnips, mangels, clover, peas, cabbages, strawberries, and others. There is also another and a smaller species known as Tipula maculosa, or the spotted Crane fly, having spots on its body, which is injurious to various crops. Its habits and history are similar to those of the Tipula oleracea, and the methods of prevention and remedies against it are the same. There has been a large increase of these insects during the past few years, and the injury caused to corn crops in England and Scotland has been very great. The wet summer season previous to 1880 favoured their propagation, as they delight in moisture and revel in damp, marshy, boggy places, in which they prefer to deposit their eggs.

It is the larvaæ or grubs that injure plants of corn and grass by attacking them with their strong jaws and eating into them just beneath the surface of the ground, so as either to kill them or to make them weak and sickly. In the early spring, if wheat plants which show signs of failing are examined, large ashgrey grubs, or maggots, will often be found close to the affected plants. Oats and barley are equally liable to harm from these page 23 grubs, not perhaps quite to such an extent as autumn sown wheat, and especially wheat sown after clover leys. One instance may be given here of serious loss in a large wheat field in Kent after clover ley, well ploughed and duly pressed, with a deal of sward turned in. The plant which was forward and very vigorous looked like yielding five quarters per acre. In February it began to fail, but the actual cause was not ascertained until the middle of March, too late for any effectual remedies. Only about four sacks per acre were obtained from this field. A field of oats sown on the 1st of March, after clover, was attacked by these grubs. Although it was an even strong plant it was soon nearly half devoured, and instead of nine quarters per acre being obtained, as might have been expected from the state of the land and the circumstances of its cultivation, and the produce of other land hard by, only about four quarters per acre were grown. It is computed that the loss in this case amounted to 80l. Upon a farm in Essex, in 1882, the bean crop was materially reduced by an attack of these Crane Fly grubs; and on a market garden farm near Rainham, in Essex, early peas were almost entirely ruined by them. Grave complaints of great injury and of heavy losses to corn have been rife from many parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland during the last six years.

Pastures have also suffered alarmingly in some places. The grubs seem to select the best and most succulent grasses and those of upright growth, such as cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata. In pastures and meadows the amount of damage done by these insects cannot be estimated, as so much of it is unseen and unknown. It is stated that in pasture land known to be attacked by them as many as two hundred grubs have been taken from a square foot of turf. In 1884 Lord's Cricket Ground was seriously injured by the grubs of the Daddy Long-legs.