OF THE STATK ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 



has hitherto been recorded of this last species,in that the last hatched 

 larvre in the fall fasten themselves to the more tender oak twigs, 

 where they rest till the following spring, with scarcely any change 

 except in the deepening of the color, which, as in the young Grape 

 Phylloxeroe hibernating on the roots of its food-plant, becomes deeper 

 and acquires a yellowish, or even a reddish-brown tint. (20) 



As the leaves begin to put forth, our young Oak Phylloxeras cast 

 off their winter skin, and their lethargy with it. They may then be 

 seen crawling up and down the twigs, but do not settle on the leaves. 

 Attaining, in a few days, full growth, they begin a virginal reproduc- 

 tion by covering the twigs with eggs, which hatch in just about a week 

 if the weather is warm and propitious. Thus the hibernating lice 

 acquire their growth, and give birth to the first generation, in the 

 short space intervening between the opening of the buds and the full 

 growth of the first leaves. Beyond this I have not yet traced the ver- 

 nal history of the species. 



CONCLUSION. 



We have in the history of the Grape Phylloxera, the singular 

 spectacle of an indigenous American insect being studied, and its 

 workings understood in a foreign land, before its presence in its most 

 injurious form was even suspected in its native home. The Franco- 

 Prussian war, with all its fearful consequences to France, has passed 

 away; the five milliards of francs (one thousand million dollars) have 

 been paid as indemnity to her victors, in so short a time that the 

 civilized world looked on in wonder and astonishment. Yet this little 

 Phylloxera, sent over, doubtless in small numbers, by some American 

 nurseryman, a few years since, continues its devastating work, and 

 costs that unfortunate country millions of francs annually. The last 

 German soldier has been removed — at terrible cost it is true — from 

 French soil, but the Phylloxera army remains ; and if ano'ther five 

 milliard francs could extirpate the last individual of this liliputian in- 

 sect host from her soil, '"la belle France" would be cheaply rid of the 

 enemy. Had the world, twenty years ago, possessed the knowledge 

 we at present have of this insect and of its dangerous power, a few 

 francs might have originally stayed its invasion of that great vine- 

 groWing and wine-making country. Needs there any more forcible 

 illustration of the importance of economic entomology ! 



