WHITE-PINE LEAF-LOUSE. 9^ 



resembling that found under the scales upon the apple tree. It is 

 evident, therefore, that the Pine coccus is subject to the attacks of 

 some species of Chalcis flj, though apparently not as yet to any 

 great extent. 



Of the shrunken and abortive eggs, so common under the scales 

 on the apple tree, and which are supposed to be the work of Acari, 

 I have met with no well marked examples in the present species. 



The most effective agent in the destruction of the Pine coccus, 

 so far as my observations have extended, is the one which ap- 

 peared to be the least so in the case of Oyster shell species, namely, 

 the CoccinellidcB and their larvse. I have seen whole branches 

 covered with the scales of the Coccus, where scarcely one could be 

 found that had not been gnawed into and its occupant destroyed 

 by these predaceous insects. Most of this destruction is effected 

 by them in their larva state, and as these, being wingless, do not 

 move very rapidly from one part of a tree to another, it is often 

 observable that one branch will be nearly cleaned by them whilst 

 an adjoining one will be scarcely touched. The species of Coccin- 

 ella which I have usually seen on the pine tree is the Chilocorus 

 bivuhierus, the small black species with two red dots. 



The Coccus of the Pine tree has long been known to be injurious 

 to trees cultivated for ornamental purposes, a brief account of it 

 having been published by Dr. Fitch, as long ago as the year 1856, 

 from specimens sent to him from trees growing in the yard of S. 

 Francis, Esq., in the city of Springfield, in this State; and I saw, 

 last summer, many valuable ornamental trees in that city almost 

 ruined by what we may presume to be the lineal descendants of 

 those identical Pine-tree parasites, and as little or nothing has been 

 done to counteract their ravages, the only reason we know why 

 they have not spread more extensively, and effected still greater 

 mischief, is that they have been held in partial check by such nat- 

 ural enemies as those which we have just enumerated. 



The present article has grown under my pen beyond the limits 

 I contemplated, but I have not seemed to be able to state in any 

 briefer manner the history of my observations respecting the in- 

 teresting insect which is the subject of it. Besides I consider the 

 history of one species, thoroughly elucidated, of greater value than 

 many brief and imperfect sketches ; for this reason especially, that 

 every insect may be taken to a certain extent as a type of its ge- 



