238 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



woven into a web or net-work. The threads are secreted from a conical 

 protuberance situated underneath and near the extremity of the abdo- 

 men, and they are drawn out and guided by the motions of the insect and 

 by the action of the minute claws of the feet. In constructing the web 

 the feet are moved quickly and the threads are attached to the hairs and 

 other prominences of the leaf, and under this shelter will be found a 

 colony consisting of many mature individuals of both sexes and young 

 mites of all ages, which feed and multiply rapidly. By the aid of their 

 jaws, which are not unlike the beak of a bird, they tear away the surface 

 of the leaf, and then plunge their beaked suckers into the wound and 

 suck the juice. 



The eggs of this mite are nearly round, colorless, and large in propor- 

 tion to the size of the insect. The larva is a minute transparent object, 

 not unlike its parent, but it has only six legs and creeps slowly. The 

 leaves of the plants attacked soon indicate the presence of this invader 

 by their sickly hue ; the sap being sucked by myriads of tiny mouths, the 

 leaves are deprived of their natural nourishment, and soon assume a yel- 

 lowish hue, with patches of a greyish or lighter shade ; the under surface 

 becomes whitish, and if the mite is allowed to pursue its course 

 unchecked, the gardener soon finds his cherished flowers and shrubs much 

 injured or destroyed. 



These insects are said to pass the winter under stones, concealing 

 themselves there when the leaves they have fed on have fallen. 



The remedies used for such enemies as the Red Spider are various 

 preparations of sulphur and soap, used separately or together, mixed with 

 water and applied to the plants with a syringe. Sulphur in any 

 form seems useful ; laying it in, powder upon the pipes in the green 

 house has been recommended. Plain soap and water is said to be 

 effectual ; indeed water alone freely used is regarded by some as sufficient. 

 It is well known that the insect thrives best in a dry atmosphere. In 

 applying any of these liquids, to insure success it is necessary that it be 

 used so as to wet the under-side of the leaves ; if applied to the upper 

 surface only the mites may remain attached to the lower side with perfect 

 security during the entire operation. The gardener is aided in his war 

 against this pest by other mites and insects which prey upon them. The 

 larvae of the Lace-wing Plies and other friendly insects are said to devour 

 large numbers of them. 





