Grasses of the Tribe Hordeae as Hosts of the Hessian Fly*

Abstract

The possibility that grasses other than the grains may serve as alternate hosts of the hessian fly, Phytophaga destructor (Say), has been the subject of speculation for many years. Early investigators found infestations of puparia believed to be those of the hessian fly on species of Agropyron, Elymus, Phleum (timothy), Agrostis and Bromus (Tyler 1797, Fletcher 1898, Webster 1915). Noble (1931) was the first to prove that the true hessian fly could complete its development on Agropyron repens and Elymus canadensis although not so readily as on wheat. It has been shown also that many species of Hordeum and Aegilops may serve as hosts of the hessian fly (Jones 1936, 1938).