Hessian fly

Hessian fly
a small fly, Phytophaga destructor, the larvae of which feed on the stems of wheat and other grasses.
[1780-90, Amer.]

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▪ insect
 small fly in the gall midge family, Cecidomyiidae (order Diptera), that is very destructive to wheat crops. Though a native of Asia it was transported into Europe and later into North America, supposedly in the straw bedding of Hessian troops during the American Revolution (1775–83).

      In the spring the dark-coloured female lays about 250 to 300 reddish eggs on young wheat, barley, or rye plants. After several days the larvae, which are red at first but soon turn white, emerge and feed for about a month on plant sap. They then form capsules (puparia), in which they transform into adult flies that live about three days, just long enough to mate and lay eggs. This second generation passes the winter in puparia affixed to wheat stubble. In the spring they develop into adults, completing the cycle. When conditions are favourable, additional generations may occur between the spring and autumn ones.

      The best method for combatting the Hessian fly is to delay planting long enough in the spring that the plants do not grow until after the adult has emerged, laid its eggs, and died. Some varieties of wheat have proved to be resistant. Deep plowing of wheat stubble helps prevent emergence of the flies in the spring.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hessian fly — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

  • Hessian fly — Hessian Hes sian, a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians. [1913 Webster] {Hessian boots}, or {Hessians}, boot of a kind worn in England, in the early part of the nineteenth century, tasseled in front. Thackeray. {Hessian… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hessian fly — см. Приложение 1 (Mayetiola destructor). (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Hessian fly — Hessian fly. См. гессенская муха. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Hessian fly — ☆ Hessian fly n. a small gall midge (Mayetiola destructor) whose larvae destroy wheat crops …   English World dictionary

  • Hessian fly — Cecidomyia Cec i*do*my i*a (s[e^]s [i^]*d[ o]*m[imac] [i^]*[.a]), prop. n. [Nl., fr. Gr. khki s, khki^dos, a gall nut + myi^a a fly.] (Zo[ o]l.) A genus of small dipterous files, including several very injurious species, as the {Hessian fly}. See …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hessian fly — Hes′sian fly′ n. ent a small fly, Mayetiola (or Phytophaga) destructor, the larvae of which feed on the stems of wheat and other grasses …   From formal English to slang

  • Hessian fly — noun Date: 1786 a small European dipteran fly (Mayetiola destructor) introduced into North America that is destructive to wheat …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hessian-fly — n. Wheat fly (Cecidomyia destructor) …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Hessian fly — noun small fly whose larvae damage wheat and other grains • Syn: ↑Mayetiola destructor • Hypernyms: ↑gall midge, ↑gallfly, ↑gall gnat • Member Holonyms: ↑Mayetiola, ↑genus Mayetiola …   Useful english dictionary

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