ORDER II. BUGS. 83 



Plant-lice (Aphis). 



Like the preceding insects, the Plant-lice belong to the 

 order of Bugs which constitute the Hemipterous Insects. 

 They have small round bodies, of a brown, black, yellow, 

 or blue color. Some species are provided with wings, some 

 others have none ; but on the back of all of them may be 

 seen two honey-tubes, or honey-warts, from which issues a 

 sweet substance very much liked by the Ants. For this 

 reason we find even such carnivorous insects as the Ants on 

 friendly and intimate terms with the Plant-lice. In fact, 

 they are called the milk-cows of the Ants, because the lat- 

 ter suck from them the sweet juice of their honey-tubes. 

 They are as careful of them as w^e of our cows, protect 

 them from their enemies, and, in case of danger, even carry 

 them away in their mouth very carefully to a safe place. 

 This sweet fluid of the Plant-lice is also often seen upon 

 the branches of trees or shrubs — a glutinous substance 

 known by the name of honey-dew, and eagerly sought by 

 Ants. If, therefore, we see Ants running up and down the 

 branches of trees and shrubs, we may consider it a certain 

 indication of the presence of Plant-lice. 



There is scarcely a tree, or bush, or herb that grows in 

 our gardens or fields that is not infested with some species 

 of Plant-lice ; and in spite of their diminutive size, and 

 the disgust we naturally have for them, a host of interest- 

 ing associations are connected with them. Their manner 

 of living, and of reproduction also, have attracted much 

 interest. They both deposit their eggs and bring forth 

 their young alive — a phenomenon which does not take place 

 in any of the four-winged insects. Their multiplication is 

 immense, and, considering the size of the animal, really as- 

 tonishinoj ; for it is a well-known fact that one sinorle Plant- 

 louse is capable of producing ninety young ones, from which 

 spring myriads more. From the month of April to No- 



