OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



51 



•menacingly the posterior part of the body wITen disturbed. They 

 are found in several diilerent kinds of Phylloxera galls, and do more 

 than any other species to keep the leaf-inhabiting Grape Phylloxera 

 within bounds. 



The next most efficient aid in the destruction of the leaf-lice is 

 found among the Lace-wing Hies, one species of which, more espe- 

 cially, viz.: the Weeping L-^ice-wing (Chri/sopa hlorahunda Fitch), I 



find very frequently within the 

 galls devouring their contents. 

 These Hies are known as well 

 by their brilliantly golden 

 eyes as by the peculiarly of- 

 fensive odor, as of human or- 

 lace-winc; fly:-<7, eggc;; h, laiva; r, cocoon; d, fly. dure, which some of them emit. 

 The eggs are adroitly deposited (Fig. 10, a) at the tip of long, silk-like 

 stalks, in order,. to prevent the first-born larvae irora exercising their 

 cannibalistic propensities on their yet unborn brethren.* The larva 

 (Fig. 10, h) is very rapacious, and, when ready to transform, winds itself 

 up into a wonderfully small cocoon (considering the size of the insect 

 which makes it and which issues from it) which is spun from the ex- 

 tremity of the body and from which it issues, when about to acquire 

 wings, through a neatly-cut, circular aperture. 



[Fig. 11.] Next in order, as Phylloxera en- 



emies, may be mentioned the Lady 

 birds ( Coccinella)^ especially certain 

 small, dark-brown species belonging 

 to the genus SoTjinnus, and whose 

 ^^"«mui bTe^rr'"' ^'"' young, thickly covered with white 

 and evenly-shorn tufts of a cottony secretion, are frequently found 

 at their good work within the galls. Following these may be men- 

 tioned, as auxiliaries, certain Syrphus- t*^'-- "^ 

 fly larvpe, which, being blind, go 

 groping about among the eggs and 

 young lice which they seize and suck 

 to death. Also certain orange larvae 

 of a smaller, two- winged fly {LeuGopls)\ a few 

 genuine bugs {Ileteroptera) and notably the Insidi- 

 ous Flower-bug {Anthocoris insidious^ Say, Fig. 

 14), and certain smaller Hymenopterous parasites. iNsmious fiower-bug. 



•This is at least, Dv. Fitch's siiiiiiositioii; but the fact tliat other insects, herbivorous by nature, 

 have a similar habit, avouM indicale tluit it is more to protect the eg.tcs from other cannibals; and the 

 necessity for such protection, on the part of Chrysopa, is evident, snice the eggs are usually p aceil 

 among, or near, plant-lice, and these arc always sought by many voracious enemies which would net 

 hesitate to devour the Chrysopa eggs if they got a chance. 



Syrphus Lakva. 



Sykphus Fly. 



