93 



The species exhibited belongs to the spinning mites, of which 

 the well-known " red-spider" of the gardens is another member. 



T. lintearius was first observed by M. Dufour, at St. Sever, in 

 France, and in the " Ann. Sc. Nat.," in 1832, he gives an account 

 of his observations. He describes the conspicuous, milky or opaline 

 white web clothing the thorny bush in every direction, as a layer of 

 fine muslin, with numerous patches of a kind of red dust, often 

 agglomerated, at times disseminated, especially after the long con- 

 tinuance of fine weather. This dust he found to be "animalcules" in 

 extreme abundance. Some of these he put in glass tubes to further 

 examine, and there they quickly spun their webs in quantity, 

 apparently uniting their eftbrts, so that there was no flaw or gap in 

 the resultant structure. 



Other French observers have also noticed it. M. Lucas, in "Ann. 

 Soc. Ent. Fr.," 1869, records it from Normandy and Brittany. M. 

 Laboulbene, in 1865, in the same Society, says that the camellia is 

 attacked by this species of mite, which spins a white web under 

 and on the leaves, and much disfigures the foliage by white spots 

 and blotches, M.. Boisduval records it under the leaves of syringa. 



One would be inclined to suggest that the species observed on 

 the camellia was not the same as that which is attached to the 

 gorse, as in the former case the webs, although made by societies 

 of individuals, are small aft'airs, while those made by the gorse- 

 frequenting species are of comparatively enormous dimensions. 



So far I have met with no previous records of the occurrence of 

 2\ linteariiis in this country, but possibly that is merely only an 

 expression of my omission to search sufficiently into the literature 

 of economic natural history. 



It will be recalled to mind that Mr. Step referred to a species of 

 mite with a similar habit of spinning a huge area of web, which he 

 had met with, I believe, at Mickleham. This was another species 

 of Tetrani/c/iiis, T. tUianon, a minute yellowish, or orange coloured 

 species, which attacks the leaves of lime, and often covering the 

 trunks and branches of the trees with a very finely spun web, 

 giving them a bright glazed appearance. 



In most cases it appears that for the mites to obtrude themselves 

 in this way upon the ordinary observer, there must be a concur- 

 rence of very fine and dry weather just at the right time in spring 

 or early summer, and in addition a peculiarly favourable state of 

 other atmospheric conditions." 



