Hessian fly

Hessian fly
Hessian fly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Subfamily: Cecidomyiinae
Supertribe: Lasiopteridi
Tribe: Oligotrophini
Genus: Mayetiola
Species: M. destructor
Binomial name
Mayetiola destructor
(Say, 1817)
Synonyms

Cecidomyia destructor Say, 1817

The hessian fly or barley midge, Mayetiola destructor, is a species of fly that is a significant pest of cereal crops including wheat, barley and rye. 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). There are usually two generations a year but may be up to five. In the spring the dark-coloured female lays about 250 to 300 reddish eggs on plants, usually where the stems are covered by leaves; the larvae feed on the sap and weaken the plants so that they cannot bear grain. The hessian fly was described by Thomas Say in 1817. It is a very harmful insect. It mainly attacks the stem, although if it is really hungry it will eat any part of the plant it can find. In 1836 a severe infestation of Hessian flies resulted in a crop shortage aggravating the financial problems of farmers prior to the Panic of 1837. [1]

References

  1. ^ McGrane, Reginald Charles. (1924, 1965) The Panic of 1837: Some Financial Problems of the Jackson Era. New York: Russell & Russell Inc.

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  • 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 — a small fly, Phytophaga destructor, the larvae of which feed on the stems of wheat and other grasses. [1780 90, Amer.] * * * ▪ insect  small fly in the gall midge family, Cecidomyiidae (order Diptera), that is very destructive to wheat crops.… …   Universalium

  • 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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