ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 227 



The chief natural enemies of the Aphis family are found among 

 the Beetles {Colcoptera), one family of which, the Lady birds 

 {Coccincllidcc), are the great destroyers of Aphides, on which these 

 beetles, both in their larval and perfect states, feed with the utmost 

 voracity, and no better precaution can be taken against the attacks 

 of " Blight " than the colonisation of Lady birds in our gardens. 

 Another most valuable insect ally for this purpose, is the common 

 gauze-wing fly, sometimes called the "Stink fly" {Chrysopa peria). 

 It is well known in gardens, is delicate green in colour, has a long, 

 thin body, four very delicate wings, and two exceedingly bright 

 golden eyes. When handled it imparts to the fingers a most 

 disgusting scent; hence its name of Stink fly. This fly in the 

 perfect state preys on the Aphis, hovering over the infested plants, 

 alighting from time to time to snatch up some of its living food ; 

 but it is in the larval state that it does the most execution. 



Among beetles we have many enemies, notably among whom 

 may be mentioned the Skip Jacks {Elateridce), known in their 

 larval condition as Wire worms ; the May bugs and their allies 

 {Alelolonthidce) ; the Weevils {Curculionidce), attacking corn, etc., 

 in store; the Corn Beetle {Trogosita Mauritanicd) ; the Meal 

 worm, another of the same family ; the Pea Beetles {Bnichidce) ; 

 the Pea Weevils {Sitonidce) ; the w ood.-honx\g H}'ksinid(2, of which 

 the Scolytus destructor, too well known in our parks, is a good 

 example ; the family of Lotigtcor/ies, deadly enemies of 

 forest trees ; and the Chryso7nelidce. or Golden Apple Beetles. It 

 is evident the limits of this paper would not permit me to give a 

 life history of each of these destroyers. They are, with a host of 

 others I have not enumerated, formidable destroyers, largely and 

 directly affecting the profits of the farmer, though very frequently 

 he has no idea of the cause of the failure of his crop, perhaps 

 does not even know of the existence of the tiny ravager who has 

 robbed him of the fruit of his toil. Take, for instance the Wire- 

 worm. This {Agriotes lineatus), in its perfect state, is a narrow 

 brown beetle about ^5 of an inch long, with long wing cases or ely- 

 tra covered with parallel lines. They present somewhat a flattened 

 appearance, and the thorax is produced into spines at the hinder 

 angles, and underneath, the breast plate is produced into a long 

 point. They are remarkable for their great power when placed on 



