9 



and if possible to detect the real author. Till theu the mischief had 

 been attributed to this species,* but, notwithstanding that the field was 

 literally swarming with this large saw-fly, not one was seen to puncture 

 any of the willows. All the willows except very few along the edge of 

 the field, which appeared to have been very recently Injured, appeared 

 to be in healthy condition. The afl'ected shoots, the tips of which were 

 hanging down, had become brown and almostdry from the fierce heat of 

 the day, and showed, when closely examined, unmistakable evidence of 

 the work of this PhyUoecus, whose life-habits, with the assistance of Mr. 

 Pergande, we have been able to trace. 



Fig. 2. — Phyllcecus intecek. a, •egg; b, larva, dorsal view; c, aame, side view ; d, e, two views 

 of burrow; /, twig, showing damage; g, adult; all enlarged except /; h, antenna, still more enlarged 

 (original). 



Admiral Amnien stated that the year before almost the whole field 

 looked like these shoots, appearing as if it had suffered from a severe 

 frost or as if a fire had run ov^er it, and that by autumn large numbers 

 of the shoots had been killed close to the ground. 



As the larva of this insect, which resembles very much that of 

 Urocerus or Tremex, is a true borer, the female inserts her eggs in the 

 stems of willows or nearly related plants and by a wonderful instinct 

 girdles the twig after she has consigned her egg, to prevent it from 

 growing any further, and in order to protect the egg from being crushed. 

 The eggs are inserted ic an oblique direction into the pith of the stem, 

 from 2 to inches below the tip, and the girdle is made about 1 inch 

 above it. 



The puncturing of the tip is evidently done with the ovipositor, as the 

 punctures can be traced into the pith. Tlie tips soon become dry and 

 * See Report Entomologist, Anu. Rept. Dept. A'^r., 1884, p. !^3t. 



