INSECTS ATTACKING FLOWERS. 



RED SPIDER. 



[Tetranychus telarius Linn.; Order, Acarina.) 



Diagnosis. — A minute, red mite on lower surface of leaves of 

 house plants, spinning fine webs ; the leaves turning yellow, with- 

 ering, and falling off". 



Description and Life-history. — The " Red Spider " is not a spider, 

 but a mite, belonging to the same insect order as the flour and 

 cheese mites (which are white instead of red). 

 Under a microscope, (for the Red Spider is so 

 small as to appear to the naked eye merely as 

 a fine, red speck,) the little pest will be seen to 

 have four pairs of legs, and to have mouth-parts 

 fitted for piercing and sucking. The mite in- 

 serts its tiny beak into the leaf and sucks the life 

 juices from the plant. The mites are usually 

 Fig 58 Red Spider ^^ Small colouies, uuder a fine, transparent web. 

 grea y en argec . Remedies. — The Red Spider does not like a 



damp atmosphere ; if the plants are well watered daily, our little 

 pest will be seriously discouraged. 



Spraying the plants with soap-suds, tobacco water, or kerosene 

 emulsion (see p. 9), the last being best of all, will effectually keep 

 the Red Spider down. 



Kansas Notes. — Kansas housewives have been troubled by this 

 pest whenever and wherever they have attempted to beautify their 

 homes with the presence of flowers. 



ROSE SLUG. 



{Selandria rosce Harr.; Order, Hymenoptera.) 



Diagnosis. — A soft, greenish or yellowish, slug-like worm, about 



one-half an inch long, eating large, irregular patches in the upper 



surface of rose leaves ; the leaves appear as if scorched, and drop off". 



(106) 



