APHIDID.E, 



291 



the main harbourage, but many specimens may also be found hiber- 

 nating just underneath the leaf-scales.^ 



In Cheshire, by about March 25, the queen-mothers may be found 

 just beginning to make "a move." At this time they are very small, 

 and much resemble the larvfe hatched out 

 from eggs later on in the season. 



The antennae are very small, and partly 

 liidden. They are three- or four-jointed, 

 l)ut the joints are not easily determined 

 liy the inch objective. The rostrum is 

 short and stiff, with very long attached 

 setae. The legs are short, and naturally 

 not seen outside the bodily circum- 

 ference. The tail is short, but is 

 used by the insect in arranging her eggs, 

 with which she ultimately becomes half- 

 buried. 



The eggs on the stem are (jreenisJi in 

 colour, glued together by a resinous tur- 

 pentine, and further attached to each 

 other and to the plant by delicate threads. 



The larval forms which hatch from the 

 eggs are mere pin-points in size, and a 



darkish colour. They spread themselves all over the tree, and do 

 immense damage by sucking the juices of the plant. When numer- 

 ically very strong, together with those arising from the buds, as in 

 some local spots, they entirely defoliate, or rather retard the develop- 

 ment of the foliage- — so much so, that the severely affected trees may 

 appear quite naked when others are in full leaf (fig. 273). 



Later on during the summer the green leaves are heavily dusted 

 with white — so much so, that they would appear as if covered with 

 a slight shower of snow (fig. 274). If each speck be examined in- 

 dividually, it will be found that it is composed of mother and eggs 

 covered by the white exudation. 



ig. 273.— Foliage of larch arrested 

 in development by severe attack of 

 Cliermes in early summer. 



^ The two forms — viz., those on buds and those on bark — are quite distinct. 

 The latter is considered as one of the stages of C. riridis, and the former as one 

 of the stages of C. strohUohius. 



