34 THE MICROSCOPE. Mar., 



Observe that the head (Fig. I, w) is not separated 

 from the body as in the fly, but that head, thorax and 

 abdomen seem to be all in one piece; that it has two 

 eyes, (Fig. I, ?/) one on either side of the head; that 

 these eyes are compound; that the antennae (Fig. I, n) 

 which have seven joints are long and slender and when 

 carried over the back reach beyond the body (Fig. 2, n); 

 that the legs (Fig. 1, r) are six in number and they also 

 are long and slender in comparison with the size of the 

 body; that the tarsi (Fig. 1, t) have only two joints and 

 that the legs are covered with delicate hairs. Viewed 

 as an opaque object the eyes look like two deep rubies 

 set on the sides of a somewhat oval emerald, the legs 

 and antennae like sparkling amber and in case of one of 

 the winged Aphides ; the wings show fine iridescent 

 colors. Altogether it is a beautiful object. 



On the back, toward the end of the abdomen, are two 

 very slender protuberances (Fig. 1, p ). These are the 

 tubes from which exudes a sweet liquid which drops on 

 the leaves of the plants, and is there known as honey- 

 dew. To see this honey, take one of the glass slides 

 containing a slight depression in the center, and care- 

 fully remove an Aphis to the center of this. Then place 

 over it a cover glass and secure it with two or three 

 small pieces of gummed paper, placing the cover so as to 

 admit a little air. Put it under the microscope and in 

 littlo while you will probably see either a drop on the 

 honey tube (Fig. 3) or the drop where it has fallen on 

 the glass. The little red ant is very fond of this honey, 

 and is found on the plants infested with these in- 

 sects. They not only eat the honey which has fallen on 

 the leaves, but take it from the honey tubes. The ants 

 make the same use of the Aphides as we do of cows. 

 Some species of the Aphides live on the roots of plants. 



Rusticus, in his letters, says : " Another odd station 

 for the Aphides is on the roots of plants. The other day 



