THE INSECTS OF AUGUST. 



215 



subject. Some persons suffer terribly from the bite of a mos- 

 quito, while others scarcely feel them. The cuticle of a negro's 

 foot is nearly impenetrable, and perhaps the stiug would have 

 been more dangerous in a more tender part." It is not improb- 

 able that the sting was made by a wasp (Stizus) which preys on 

 the Cicada. Dr. Le Baron and Mr Riley believe the wound to 

 be made by the beak, which is the more probable solution of the 

 problem. 



A word more about the Seventeen-year Cicada. Professor 

 Orton writes us from Yellow Springs, Ohio, that this insect 



265. Hop Vine Moth and Young. . 



has done great damage tp the apple, peach, and quince trees, 

 and is shortening the fruit crop very materially. By boring 

 into twigs bearing fruit, the branches break and the fruit goes 

 with them. "Many orchards have lost fiill two years' growth. 

 Though the plum and 

 cherry trees seemed ex- 

 empt, they attacked the 

 grape, blackberry, rasp- 

 berrj', elm (white and 

 slippery), maple, white 

 ash, willow, catalpa, 

 honey-locust and wild 

 rose. We have traces 

 of the Cicada this year from Columbus, Ohio, to St. Louis. 

 Washington and Philadelphia have also had a visitation." 



We figure the Ilop-vine moth and the larva (Fig. 205) 

 which abound on hops the last of summer. Also, the Ilythia 

 colonella (Fig. 2CG, a, pupa), known in England to be a para- 

 site of the Humble bee. We have frequently met with it here, 

 though not in Humble bees' nests. The larvas feed directly upon 

 the young bees, according to Curtis (Farm Insects). The 

 Spindle-worm moth (Gortyna zea:), whose caterpillar lives in 

 the stalks of Indian corn, and also in dahlias, flies this month. 



266. Humble Bee Parasite. 



