Economic entomology for the farmer Economic entomology for the farmer and the fruit grower, and for use as a text-book in agricultural schools and colleges; economicentomolo00smit Year: 1906 334 A N E CO NO MIC EN TO MO L OGY. never economically important. The minute species of Ceratcpo- gon are furnished with piercing mouth parts, and are often ex- tremely irritating, but otherwise the adults are harmless, unfitted for blood-sucking. They are known as *' sand-flies,' ' punkies,'' 'gnats,' 'midges,' and by Fig. 382. other names, some of which are applied indifferently to spe- cies of divers
Economic entomology for the farmer Economic entomology for the farmer and the fruit grower, and for use as a text-book in agricultural schools and colleges; economicentomolo00smit Year: 1906 334 A N E CO NO MIC EN TO MO L OGY. never economically important. The minute species of Ceratcpo- gon are furnished with piercing mouth parts, and are often ex- tremely irritating, but otherwise the adults are harmless, unfitted for blood-sucking. They are known as *' sand-flies,' ' punkies,'' 'gnats,' 'midges,' and by Fig. 382. other names, some of which are applied indifferently to spe- cies of diverse families. The '' fungus gnats'' of the family MycetophilidcE are also small, mosquito-like creatures, but,, more compactly built, with shorter abdomen, stouter bodv and legs, and antennae that are not plumose or feathered in either sex. They are smoky or blackish in color, as a rule, and frequent decaying vegeta- ble matter or fungi, in which the larvie feed. The latter are slender, white, worm-like creat- ures, with a distinct black head, and usually feed together in considerable numbers. They sometimes develop a curious wan- dering habit when full-grown, marching in rope- or ribbon-like aggregations an inch or two wide and from six to ten inches in length. Some bands have been observed from four to five inches wide and twelve feet in length, piled up from four to six deep ! Ordinarily no injury is done by these insects, which are rather scavengers than otherwise ; but one species of Sciara becomes a serious pest to mushroom growers, eating into the plants and utterly ruining them. In fact, in many localities it is simply impossible to grow mushrooms after warm weather sets in. Measurable exemption may be secured by keeping the houses or cellars tightly closed and fumigating frequently with tobacco or pyrethrum to kill the flies. In a cellar the flies al- ways get to any window or other source of light, and great masses can be killed in such situations by a fine spray of ker
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