228 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 4 



With the earliest setting o^the blossom clusters in spring, the aphides 

 are also found to be present and these continue to multiply and spread 

 over the vines, so that rarely any blossom clusters perfect throughout 

 the spring and early summer. 



About the first of July the insects almost wholly disappear and the 

 vines have a respite from their attacks and are enabled to develop a 

 scant crop of blossoms and to make a little annual growth, but by the 

 latter part of September the pests are again in evidence in full force 

 and scarce a flower cluster escapes injury, if not complete destruction. 



The aphides continue to multiply until the first hard frost, which 

 wilts the protecting leaves and causes the pests to disperse over the 

 stems and foliage and it is at this time that the winged forms seem to 

 be most abundant. 



The species of honeysuckles so devastated include the choicest 

 varieties, — all that have smooth, somewhat glaucous foliage and bloom 

 from their growing points continuously throughout the growing season. 



The European varieties produce profuse clusters of delicately colored 

 broad trumpet shaped blossoms, which diffuse during the early morning 

 and evening hours a perfume of most exquisite and refined sweetness, 

 which is withheld under the heat and brilliance of the noonday sun. 

 Our native sempervirens, though scentless, was formerly' one of our 

 most vigorous and valued climbers, whose blossoms, bright red exter- 

 nally and soft orange within, rendered it by far the most showy of 

 all the species. 



Previous to the advent of the aphis — from whence it is difficult to 

 conclude — all these vines were rapid growers and most desirable for 

 shading piazzas and for trellis ornamentation. Now they only survive 

 in the form of half-naked stems and low deformed bushes, with little 

 of their natural' habit and attraction. I have not attempted any 

 structural description of the insect, as Professor Gillette, who very 

 kindly made the determination for me, wrote that he would have a 

 paper on the subject for the meeting of the Entomological Asso- 

 ciation. 



I may mention further that I have never found ants attending this 

 species and rarely, before the past summer, were lady-birds seen 

 among the colonies, but this year the winter lady-bird Adalia bipunc- 

 tata and its larvae were found feeding upon a large proportion of the 

 spring colonies and, later in the season, the latter were preyed upon to 

 a considerable extent by the larvse of one or more Syrphus flies from 

 which, as yet, I have not been able to obtain the adults. 



In these and possibly other natural enemies we find some ground for 

 hope that this pestilent despoiler may be so kept in subjection, that 

 our favorite climbers may once more display their pristine loveliness. 



