The Ribbon-Footed Corn Fly. Chlorops tæniopus. Curtis.

Fig. III.

2, Fly of Chlorops tæniopus, nat. size; 3, same map.; 4, 5, 6, larvæ and pupa; map. and nat. size; 7 and 8, parasite Fly, Calinius Niger, nat. size and mag.; 9 and 10, Pteromalus Micans, parasite Fly, nat. size and mag.; 1,11, and 12, stem of corn plant with larvæ in situ.

This fly is often most injurious to wheat, barley, and rye plants. It is called ribbon-footed because it has a baud of light hue upon its dark feet. It is of a yellowish colour, with dark brown bands running down its back, and is thick and inelegant in shape. The larva or grub, the cause of the injury, is light yellow with a pointed head with rows of points placed diagonally upon the upper part of the body, and without legs, yet having considerable powers of locomotion. This grub, about the eighth of an inch in length, bites its way down the stems of corn plants, from the base of the ear to the first joint, causing the disorder known to agriculturists as gout in the joints, from the swollen and distorted growth of the stems and sheathing leaves. It has been noticed that stems of wheat having these larvæ within them rarely develop ears containing perfect grains. Barley plants also suffer in some seasons from these Chlorops maggots, which appear directly the plants begin to stock out, and burrowing in the stem hinder the formation of ears. Miss Ormerod states that in 1841 the barley crop in Lancashire was very seriously affected by their attacks. Again, in 1845, from half to two- page 15 thirds of this crop was destroyed in various localities in the east of England by the Chlorops. This insect is known and dreaded in America, Germany, and France.