192 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS, 



without further notice, and point out those which in- 

 fest another of our niost esteemed kinds of pulse, kid- 

 ney beans. These are principally Aphides, which in 

 di*y seasons are extremely injurious to them. The fluid 

 which they secrete, falling upon the leaves, causes them 

 to turn black as if sprinkled v, itli soot ; and the nutri- 

 ment being subtracted from the pods by their constant 

 suction, they are prevented from coming to their pro- 

 per size or perfection. The beans ako which they con- 

 tain are sometimes devoured by the caterpillar of a small 

 moth". — Onions, which add a relish to the poor man's 

 crusts and cheese, and form so material an ingredient 

 in the most savoury dishes of the rich, are also the fa- 

 vourite food of the maggot of a fly, that often does con- 

 siderable damage to the crop. — From this maggot (for 

 a supply of onions containing which I have to thank my 

 friend Mr. Campbell, surgeon, of Hedon near Hull, 

 where it is very injurious, particularly in light soils,) I 

 have succeeded in breeding the fly, which proves of that 

 tribe of the Linnean genus 3Iusca, now called Scato- 

 phaga. Being apparently undescribed, and new to my 

 valued correspondent Coifnt Hcffmansegg to whom I 

 sent it, I call it S. Ceparujn *>. — The diuretic Asparagus, 

 towards the close of the season, is sometimes rendered 

 unpalatable by the numerous eggs o^ Lema Asparagi, 

 F., and its larvas feea upon the foliage after the heads 

 branch out. — Cucumbers with us enjoy an immunity 

 fi-om insect assailants; but in America they are de- 



" Reaum. ii. 479. 



' Description of S. Cepantni.—C'nv^YQc.vn, clothed with distant, black 

 bairs.^ proceeding, pnrticularly on the thorax, from a black point. Less 

 Eigrescent. Back of the ahdcmen of the male with an interrupted black 

 vitta down the middle. Y>'in2s immaculate. Poisers and alulas pale 

 jfllow. Length 3;^ lines. 



