The flies, emerging in late summer, lay their eggs, here, too, separately, on the leaves of grass or corn. Wherever possible, they seek out for the purpose the winter wheat plants then present in the fields, but also content themselves with rye, or even with wild or meadow grasses; they have to be satisfied with grasses if, at the time of egg-laying, the winter corn is not yet up. The maggot, when hatched, works its way to the inner side of the leaf-sheath, and thence to the apex of the still very small haulm; there it remains during the winter. The damage becomes apparent the following spring. The growth in length of the haulm in question is extremely small, while growth in thickness increases to an abnormal extent. Almost all the leaves completely surround the haulm, which swells to an enormous extent (Fig. 119), together with the enclosing leaf-sheaths, which are much broader than usual. The unattacked plants are naturally much larger than the sickly ones, and deprive these of air and light, so that they die down, being overshadowed, not only by the sound haulms, but also by their own secondary shoots. The resulting damage may be tolerably great, especially at the edges of the field. It may happen that both summer and winter generations of the ribbon-footed corn fly are harmful in the same district; but it frequently happens that only one or the other is complained of in a particular spot. It is only natural that the flies, which swarm around in May, and again in August, September, or October, should not always find suitable corn plants upon which to deposit their eggs. In such cases grasses are used. _Remedies_: Sowing the summer corn as early as possible, that it may be developed to a stage which is unsuitable for the purpose of egg-laying, before the flies appear. The winter seed, however, must be sown as late as possible, so that the second generation of flies may find no corn plants fit to lay their eggs upon. Bearded wheat, especially the strongest varieties, should be sown in preference to awnless wheat. Careful tillage and suitable manuring, so that strong plants of rapid growth may be produced. [Illustration: FIG. 118.—The Ribbon-footed Corn Fly (_Chlorops tæniopus_); larva (A) and pupa (B) magnified. To the left a wheat haulm and ear (C) with the furrow (_q_) dug out by the larva; the pupa (_p_) is seen at the bottom of the furrow. To the right a wheat haulm with furrow (D) and the larva (_r_) lying in it. ] [Illustration: FIG. 119.—A wheat plant distorted by the winter generation of the Ribbon-footed Corn Fly. ] The =Frit Fly= (_Chlorops_, or _Oscinis frit_)