136 PEAR FLEA-LOUSE. 



Bpecitnene so nearly in coloring, and so precisely in the venation of the 

 wings, that I do not feel authorized in considering our insect as a dis- 

 tinct species, without further investigation, 



I will briefly direct attention to those points in which the discrepancy 

 seems to exist. 



M. Kollar, a German author of good standing, describes the European 

 insect as varying somewhat in its huea#at different seasons of the year, 

 but as having, When in its fullest maturity, the head and thorax of an 

 orange or a crimson color, shaded with black in the male, the abdomen 

 green, and the wings snow-white. 



Our species is also of a deep orange-red color, but the thorax is not 

 merely shaded, but distinctly striped with black, as shown in the an- 

 nexed figure. The abdomen, at least in the dried specimen, is black- 

 ish-brown, and the wings are clear, and in no sense snow-white. 



The common habit of the larvae and pupaa of our species of nestling 

 in the axils of the leaf-stalks, and thus escaping observation, 1 do not 

 find mentioned in the history of the foreign species. 



In consideration of the economic importance of this insect, and of 

 the interesting position which it holds in a scientific point of view, it 

 might be appropriately designated by the specific name of americana^ 

 if it should be decided to be a distinct species. 



I will not occupy more space by a minute description of these insects, 

 but refer the reader to the figures at the head of this chapter, which 

 exhibit the insect in both its perfect and preparatory stages, greatly 

 magnified. 



It is proper to add, however, that my specimens of the winged insect 

 not being sufficiently well preserved to be correctly figured, I have 

 made use of a cut, taken from a specimen from Massachusetts, which 

 is presumed to represent the same species. 



