80 



coloured- There is usually a clearly defined central ridge 

 with many grooves running therefrom to the sides. (The 

 var. ribis is rather more circular in form, has the transverse 

 bands more distinct in the early stage, and is of a rather 

 brighter reddish-brown when mature.) The insects leave a 

 distinct pale scar when removed from a twig. Bushes or 

 trees infested with these pests seldom bear much fruit, and 

 the leaves ripen and fall much earlier than on clean bushes, 

 both results being due to the drain on the vitality of the plant 

 by the persistent sucking up of the sap. 



FIG. 2. Larva magnified about FIG. 3. Underside of young 



50 diameters, (m), mouthparts. 



female magnified about 15 dia- 

 meters, (c), channels leading 

 to respiratory tubes (stigmata). 

 Cm), mouthparts. 



Larva. The young larvae (Fig. 2) are quite minute, about 

 the size of a large cheese mite, which they somewhat resemble, 

 except that they possess but three pairs of legs, have rather 

 long antennae, and two bristles at the end of the abdomen. The 

 mouthparts (Fig. 2m) form a sucking tube with which the 

 insect pierces the bark, and through which it sucks up the 

 juices of the plant. 



Male. The male of this insect has not yet been discovered, 

 and there can be no doubt that the females are able to repro- 

 duce their species without the intervention of the opposite sex. 



Life-History. The female begins to lay her eggs (usually 

 during: the latter half of summer), while the body is yet soft, 

 and distended; and as the process develops the under surface 



