﻿— 202 — 



I s^w them first in July, 1887. Since then I have found them 

 on the roots in August, September, October, November, April and 

 May. Experienced peach growers tell me that'they have also seen 

 them on the roots in December, January and February. Of their 

 presence on the roots in mid-Winter, I think there can be no reason- 

 able doubt. I believe it as firmly as anything I have not myself 

 observed. During the la.st four years I have found them in seven 

 counties on the Chesapeake and Delaware peninsula, and have also 

 seen them on the roots of peach-trees in southwestern Michigan 

 (1889). Altogether,- 1 suppose I must have found them on the roots 

 at least fifty times. 



Upon the parts above ground I did not observe the insect until 

 the fall of 1888, although I had looked for it repeatedly in many 

 orchards. It should be stated, however, that my observations in 

 this part of the United States were limited both years to mid-Sum- 

 mer and Autumn, while the forms above ground are most prevalent 

 in the Spring. Even in 1888 I saw only two or three small colonies, 

 and these were confined to one nursery. On the roots of the same 

 trees, however, they were quite common at this time, and also during 

 the next Summer. 



In the mild Winter of 1888-89, colonies began to appear upon 

 the branches of the peach long before any buds swelled. These 

 colonies continued upon the branches and increased in number until 

 some time in May. During that month they were in nearly every 

 orchard which I visited. In many orchards they were prevalent 

 enough to cause uneasiness, especially in the early part of the grow- 

 ing season when the leaf buds first opened. However, they did no 

 serious injury, and in Autumn when I returned they were gone from 

 the parts above ground, but were plentiful on the roots. 



The Winter of 1889-90 was milder than the preceding one. In 

 fact, throughout the eastern United States it was a remarkable 

 Winter in many respects. Very little snow fell in the latitude of 

 Washington, little or no ice was harvested south of New York City, 

 and the mean Winter temperature was many degrees above the 

 normal. Peach buds began to swell in January, and many trees 

 blossomed in February. The orchards of upper Maryland and 

 Delaware were in full blossom March 31st, several weeks earlier than 

 uslial. The mild weather seems to have greatly favored the multi- 

 plication of this peach aphis. I first heard of it on the branches 

 about Christmas, and received the first specimens January 7th from 

 Still Pond, Maryland. These Winter colonies continued on the 

 branches until Spring opened. 



