232 HEMIPTERA. 



It was first obsei-ved by Dr. Plumb in the spring of 1833, 

 on some imported pear-trees, which had been set tlie year 

 before. These trees, in the autumn after they were planted, 

 wore an unhealthy aspect, and had patches of a blackish 

 rust upon their branches. During the second summer, these 

 trees died ; and other trees, upon which the same msty 

 matter was found, proved to be infested with the same 

 insects. 



Like the aphides, or plant-lice, these insects live by suc- 

 tion. By means of their suckers, which come from the 

 lower side of the head near the breast, they puncture the 

 bark of the twigs and small branches, and imbibe the sap. 

 They soon gorge themselves to such a degree, that the fluid 

 issues constantly fi'om their bodies in drops, is thrown over 

 the surface of the twigs, and, mingled with their more solid 

 castings, defiles the bark, and gives it the blackish color 

 above noticed. Swarms of flies and ants upon the trees are 

 a sure indication of the presence of these sap-suckers, being 

 attracted by the sweetish fluid thrown out by them. 



Young trees suffer excessively by the attacks of these in- 

 sects, nor do old trees escape without injury from them. In 

 consequence apparently of their ravages alone, Dr. Plumb 

 lost several hundred pear-trees from 1834 to 1838 inclusive ; 

 his trees have continued to suffer, to some extent, from this 

 cause, since that time ; and he informs me that the same 

 destructive depredations have been observed in all the ad- 

 jacent region. On the 23d of July, I saw these insects 

 on the trees, some already provided with wings, and others 

 advancing towards maturity. The young ones were of a 

 dull orange-yellow color. They were short, and were ob- 

 tuse behind, and had little wing-scales on the sides of their 

 bodies. The perfect, or winged individuals, were about one 

 tenth of an inch long from the forehead to the tips of the 

 closed wings. The front of the head was notched in the 

 middle. The eyes were large and prominent. The head 

 and thorax were brownish orange, and the hind body green- 



