Mr. CuRTis's Obfeivat'tom m Aphides, 87 



very numerous, they contribute vvondcrtully to diminini the number 

 oi Aphides. There is \\ faying; which humanity has put into the 

 mouths ol: children in favour of this infect*, now rendered more 

 lacred by its great utihty, which has happily rendered it a fort of 

 favourite with them, and contributes ufually to its efcape from their 

 dangerous clutches- Another moft fonriidable enemy to the Aphis 

 is a very minute, black and flender Ichneumon fly, the Ichnewnon 

 Aphldum of L.innieus. The manner in which this ink<S proves fo 

 dcftrudive to the Aphis is different from that of the Lady-bird. The 

 female Ichneumon, of which numbers may be found where Aphides 

 are in plenty, fettles on a ftalk, or leaf, more or lefs covered with 

 them, marches flowly over their bodies, feeling with its antenna as 

 it proceeds for one of a fuitable fize and age; which having dlico- 

 vered, it puflies forward its body, or abdomen, in an incurved ft ate, 

 and with a line inflrument at its extremity, invifibic to the naked 

 eye, pundlures, and deiX)firs an egg in, the body of the Aphis y 

 which having done, it proceeds, and lays an egg in a fimilar way in 

 the bodies of many others. The egg thus dcpofited quickly hatches, 

 and becomes afmall hrvay or maggot, which feeds on the fubftanct 

 of the Aphis, and, having eaten the whole of it, the (kin excepted, it 

 chano-es to a pupa, or chryfalis; in which ftate when it has re- 

 mained a fufficient time, it becomes an Ichneumon fly, which eats its 

 way out of the Apb/s, leaving the dry inflated ikin of the infe6l 

 axlhering to the leaf, like a fmall pearl. Such may always be found 

 where Aphides are in plenty. We have obfervcd different fpecics of 

 Aphides to be infefted with different Ichneumons. 



In general the torpid Aphis fubmits quietly to this fatal operation ;. 

 but we have obferved fome of them, efpecially one that feeds on the 



* .*' Lady-bird,. hdy-bird, fly away home ! Your houfc h on fire, your children at home." 



fycamorcy 



