DESCRIPTION. 
The melon aphis is a minute, soft-bodied creature, of variable color, 
usually of some shade of green or greenish black; in its young and 
wingless stages, louselike in appearance; and of sluggish habit thru- 
out its existence. The general appearance of this species in its most 
commonly observable stages is indicated in figure 2, highly magnified. 
A brief description of the stages figured will suffice for the present 
purpose. ~- 
The egg has been 
described by Mr. Th. 
Pergande“ as of regu- 
larly oval shape and 
measuring about 0.6"™ 
in length; yellowish 
or greenish when first 
deposited, soon chang- 
ing to jet black. 
The larval aphis or 
nymph (fig. 2,4) when 
first born or hatched 
presents no observable 
characters for com- 
parative description. 
It measures less than 
0.5™™" and is pale im 
color, turning later 
to yellow. The last 
nymphal stage, corre- 
sponding to the pupa 
of other insects, is 
sufliciently illustrated 
at ¢ that it requires 
no verbal description. 
The apterous or wing 
less female, which is 
viviparous (giving 
Fic. 1.—Cantaloupe leaves showing curling caused by melon aphis; birth to living young), 
aphides on lower surface. Slightly reduced (original). y 
is figured at d. Great 
variation is exhibited in this stage, from pale yellow to very dark green, 
with black nectaries or honey tubes and pale whitish-yellow legs and 
antenne. This stage varies in length from 1.5 to 1.8"". The winged 
female is illustrated at a, which shows a form with pale abdomen. 
The body is more slender than in the wingless form, the length being 
«Insect Life. Vol. VII, pp. 309-315, 1895. Technical descriptions are furnished 
also by Forbes, 12th Rept. St. Ent. Ill. f. 1882 (1883), pp. 83-91. 
