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ONION FLY.
PEST DISCOVERED IN TASMANIA.
Hobart, Jan. 16.
Some time ago some young onions growing
in a garden in a suburb of Hobart were
found to be extensively attacked by small
maggots, which bored through the bulb and
ate it away, completely destroying it. The
Director of Agriculture (Mr. Benson) placed
some of the maggots in a breeding bottle.
Specimens of the perfect insect developed in
due course, and in order to determine
whether they were the onion ay of England
they were sent to Mr. C. French, the Act
ing Government Entomologist of Victoria.
A reply has been received from Mr.
French, who states that the fly is a species
of antomyia, very closely allied to the onion
fly of Europe and similar in its economy. It
is only, however, about half the size of the
European insect. Some years ago, Mr.
French states, a similar fly to the specimens
found near Hobart attacked the onion crops
at Drysdale and Portland, in Victoria, and
caused considerable damage. Growers were
advised to pull their onions up and burn
them and treat the ground with lime. After
this treatment had been carried out the
trouble did not recur. If the insect made
its appearance in other parts of Tasmania
he advised growers to follow the treatment
suggested.
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