Rural School Leaflet 



905 



3. Do all of the plant lice have wings? How many wings do some of 

 the plant lice have? Draw a wing of an aphid. 



4. See if the tiny beak of an aphid can be found. It is carried on the 

 underside of the body between the bases of the legs. How long is the 

 beak? Note the beaks of the lice sticking into the cabbage leaf. 



5. Examine cabbage leaves in summer or in fall for the swollen bodies 

 of aphids with round doors cut in their backs. These have been killed 

 by tiny parasites. Can the tiny black fly-like parasites be seen flying 

 about the cabbages? 



6. See whether ladybugs can be found among the lice. Try to find a 

 syrphus fly and see whether the white egg can be located. The syrphus 

 flies will be flying about it in the cabbage field and may look to you like 

 bees. 



Fig. 7. — Aphids thai have been killed by parasites 



PHOTO BY SLINGERLAND 



Editor's Note. — As this leaflet goes to press there has come to our atten- 

 tion an interesting fact in connection with the insect work. It appears 

 that during the past spring and summer the apple-tree tent-caterpillars 

 have been unusually numerous. A great many letters that we received 

 from boys and girls mentioned this fact, and on consulting the Depart- 

 ment of Entomology we were told that this pest is especially prevalent 

 this year. In consequence, and unless the parasites that prey upon the 

 insect have been numerous enough to hold it in check, there should be an 

 excellent opportimity to find and study the eggs of the tent caterpillar this 

 fall and winter. Have the children gather and keep them, as is suggested 

 on page 95. The study of the methods of controlling the caterpillars will 

 not only have an added interest but a direct practical appHcation next 

 spring. The question of the removal of breeding places, such as old 

 hedges of wild cherry trees, might also be considered. 

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