232 



HARDWICKE'S SCI EN CE-GOSSIP. 



[Oct. 1, 1S6S. 



MOLE MITE. 



A MOLE was brought to me this morning, on 

 -*"*- which I observed numerous specimens of a 

 species of Acarus that on examination I found 

 possessed some characters not common, and there- 

 fore the accompanying drawings may prove interest- 

 ing to some of your readers. 



Fig. 222. Mole Mite. 



Shape, oval ; length "06, breadth - (M of an inch ; 

 colour, red ; legs, 8 ; palpi, 2 ; body sparsely clothed 

 with hairs, legs and palpi better provided. 



Fig. 223. Proboscis. 



Fig. 224. Foot. 



"When alive, the intestinal canal distinct, and 

 forming a handsome pattern throughout the body, 

 which is divided transversely into two lobes ; but 

 these characters are not apparent after death takes 

 place ; the shell-covering of the hinder part of the 



body is divided into minute unequal hexagonoidal 

 plates. 



Proboscis double, flexible, and when fully pro- 

 truded is more than half the length of the body. 

 The extremity of each branch is provided with a 

 horny claw : one mandible of each is curved like a 

 bill-hook ; the other is straight, and has a tooth or 

 notch, upon which the curved mandible lies when 

 closed. All the feet are trumpet-shaped suckers, 

 extremely flexible. J. P. G. Smith. 



" BLACK JACK." 



A CORRESPONDENT inquires the name of 

 -£*- the insect which is produced from the larva 

 known as "Black Jack," and which is so destructive 

 to turnip crops. 



/' - 



Fig. 225. Larva and mature male " Turnip Saw-fly." 

 The latter enlarged to 2 diameters. 



The "Turnip Saw-fly" is Athalia spiuarum of 

 Eabricus, belonging to the order Hymeuoptera. It 

 is the perfect insect of the larva or caterpillar 

 known in agricultural districts as "Black Jack." 

 A full description with figures is contained in 

 Curtis's "Farm Insects," Chapter II., pp. 37-62, 

 plate B. In some seasons these pests are exceed- 

 ingly numerous, and in the Eastern Counties the 

 " Black Canker," as it is called, lays waste entire 

 fields of turnips. The year 1S35 has been termed 

 in these districts the " Canker-year," but fortunately 

 in some years, especially after a hard winter, they 

 are comparatively scarce, and occasion but little 

 mischief. 



" Polk Lore."— It is an article of " Folk Lore," 

 in North Yorkshire, that if the ash leafs before the 

 oak we shall have a very dry summer. Such was 

 the case this year, and we have had a summer of 

 almost unequalled drought.— J. Ranson, Linton-on- 

 Ouse, York. 



