270 



The Apple-root Plant Louse — Mytilasjjis gromi corticis. 



Fig. 4. 



specimens. The insects are nourished by 

 sucking the juices of the tree obtained from 

 the tender roots, by piercing them with their 

 beaks. 



A species of syrphus fly, known as the 

 root louse syrphus fly, Pi2)iza radicum, preys 

 on these lice, and devours immense numbers 

 of them. In Fig. 5 this useful insect is shown 

 in the larval and chrysalis state, as well as in 

 the perfect condition, all the illustrations 

 beiner magnified. 



This inseet works underground, and pro- 

 duces the odd -looking, gall-like excrescences 

 often found on the roots. In Fig. 4, a repre- 

 sents an afi'ected root, b a wingless louse, and 

 c a winged specimen. These enlargements 

 are all caused by minute lice, which may 

 usually be found in considerable numbers in 

 the crevices of the protuberances, where many 

 of them will be seen, of a pale yellow 

 colour, covered with a bluish white cottony 

 matter, and along with these, larger winged 



Fig. 5 



Attacking the Trunk. 



The Majile Borer — Glytus speciosus. 



» 

 This is a very beautiful insect, and may be readily distinguished by its brilliant black 

 and yellow colours, giving it much the appearance of a large hornet, so much so, indeed, that 

 few persons except entomologists care to touch it (see Fig. 6). It is a 

 little over an inch long, and about three-tenths of an inch in width. 

 The head is yellow, and furnished with powerful mandibles or jaws ; 

 the eyes and a band above them extending across the head, are 

 black ; the antennae or horns are also black, and are curved some- 

 what after the fashion of those of a goat, a similarity which gave 

 rise to their general name of Capricorjis or goat-horns. The thorax 

 is deep black, with two yellow oblique stripes on each side ; it is very 

 large, somewhat globular, and flattened or depressed above. The 

 body is deep black, oblong, somewhat cylindrical, a little flattened 

 above, and tapering behind. The elytra or wing covers have yellow 

 bands, the first of wliich forms a regular arch, of which the keystone 

 is composed of the yellow scutel or little shield-shaped spot at the 

 top of the wings, just behind the centre of the thorax ; the second band is in the form of 

 the letter W, each V receiving a termination of the first band ; the third band is nearly 

 transverse, and placed across the middle ; the fourth is bent obliquely backward, parallel 

 with and near to a large terminal spot or band, which latter has a large black central 

 spot on each wing case. 



The elytra are each tipped with a short blunt tooth. The legs are long and yellow, 

 with a brown line on the inner side of the thighs ; they are made for standing securely, 

 being very broad, and with the third joint deeply notched. The underside of the abdo- 

 men is reddish-yellow, variegated with brown. Fig. 6 represents the male. The female 

 is larger and stouter than the male, and has rather shorter antennae. She may also be 

 easily distinguished by having a jointed tube at the end of the abdomen, which is capable 

 of being extended or contracted at will, and is used for the purpose of conveying the eggs 

 into the crevices or holes of the bark of the trees. These insects emit a shrill, screeching 



Fis. 6. 



