28 BRITISH APHIDES. 



winged male, and he figures this insect in his ' Forst- 

 Ins.,' iii, 200. He says that he repeatedly saw the 

 male organs, which can be made to protrude by a 

 gentle pressure of the fingers. I doubt much as to the 

 fact of this insect being a male ; and the more so, as a 

 similar pressure will cause the protrusion of a short 

 and blunt ovipositor from the winged females produced 

 from the pseudo-galls. The same may be stated with 

 reference to the winged female of Chermes laricis, the 

 allied species, the male of which is at present quite 

 unknown. 



The winged females, after finding suitable localities, 

 permanently attach themselves to the spruce leaves, 

 lay their eggs, and die ; their dead bodies becoming 

 protective covers for their young broods, which hatch 

 under them and emerge in early autumn. These 

 young spread themselves over the twigs, but have not 

 been observed to make fresh cones. Apparently they 

 hide themselves under the stipules of the leaves in a 

 manner similar to that of the larch Chermes. Do they 

 there hybernate ? or, if not, what is their economy ? 

 and what is the part they play in the cycle of life 

 during the remainder of the autumn ? These questions 

 yet call for an answer ; but at present conjecture only 

 can be advanced. 



Inch. Millimetres. 



This measures 0"090 x 0*050 2'28 X 126. 



Colour warm reddish-brown, with a delicate bloom 

 upon it. Head broad, eyes brown ; thorax and pro- 

 thorax remarkably broad and massive. Abdomen 

 deeply ringed. Apical ring furnished with a small 

 cauda and two minute spines. Legs very short. Wing- 

 cases and thoracic lobes greenish. The whole under- 

 side of the pupa has a rich ferruginous, but dull and 

 milky tint. Some specimens are more slaty-grey than 

 others. 



