December 17, 1897.
I cannot be sure of your bulb attack without developing the fly, but I should conjecture that the mischief was most likely caused by the Narcissus fly. This is now known as the Merodon narcissi, Fab., but from the varieties in colour to which it is subject, I believe it has been known under all the following specific names: ephippium, transversalis, nobilis, constans, ferrugineus, flavicans, and equestris.
It is a fair-sized two-winged fly, and appears to be (in grub state) a severe plague to Narcissus and Daffodil growers in Holland, &c., especially in bulbs imported from the South of Europe.
In Verrall’s list of British Diptera I only find one species of Merodon named and that is equestris, which on the principle mentioned on the preceding page, might be synonymous with all the other (?) species. The grubs feed in Narcissus and Daffodil bulbs and turn to chrysalides in the ground, but I do not find anywhere that there is any known remedial measure. It seems to me that the only way if a bed were much infested would be literally to trench it, and so turn down the chrysalides. You do not mention whether your bulbs are home grown. If they are imported, could not you suggest to your “consigner” that unless he sent you bulbs without maggots in them, you purposed applying elsewhere?
May 12, 1898.
Excepting one specimen your caterpillars are not yet nearly full grown! If you will turn to “Lappet moth” in my Annual Reports for 1893 and 1894, you will find “the brutes” figured—perhaps get a hint where they may have come from.
It was about this attack amongst others that I gave so much annoyance to “Entomologists” by recommending that, notwithstanding their beauty and rarity, it would be highly desirable to make them yet more rare!
Male and female; and caterpillar; also apple twig with leaves eaten away—all from life.
FIG. 34.—LAPPET MOTH, GASTROPACHA QUERCIFOLIA, LINN.
December 5, 1900.