

VOL. V. LONDON, ONT., JULY, 1S73. No. 7 



OBSERVATIONS ON CERTAIN PLANT LICE OF THE 



GENUS APHIS. 



BY THOMAS G. GENTRY, GERMAN'] OWN, PA. 



That the Aphides in the spring time are wingless, virgin females, is an 

 opinion that has been carefully entertained by some of the most 

 distinguished naturalists and physiologists in the world. Bonnet, 

 Reaumur, Owen, Huxley, &c, have especially studied this interesting 

 class of insects, and have given expression to the above opinion in their 

 writings. But this, there are strong reasons for asserting, must be taken 

 in a restricted sense, so far, at any rate, as our own Aphidse are 

 concerned. 



Whilst engaged recently in an examination of a species which was 

 observed feeding upon the leaves and tender shoots of Rumex trismus, 

 with the view of testing its manner and rate of reproduction, several 

 clusters of the insect were met with, each of which, contrary to expecta- 

 tion, contained one or two winged specimens. These, in addition to the 

 possession of wings, differed still further from the apterous ones in the 

 superior length of the antennae, and in the remarkable fulness of the 

 thorax above ; this fulness being undoubtedly necessary for the attach- 

 ment of the wings and the muscles by which they are controlled. In 

 color the wingless specimens were entirely jet black, which, however, in 

 those endowed with the power of flight, was somewhat relieved by the 

 presence of a light fulvous annulus upon each antenna and tibia. 



The presence of wings in some of the specimens at this season of the 

 year, in view of the assertions of naturalists to the contrary, would seem 

 to imply the existence of males. This impression does seem to be further 

 heightened and strengthened by comparison with drawings of the male 

 rose Aphis in " Duncan's Transformation of Insects."' To be assured 



