312 FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. 



It is apt to be confounded with Melanoxanthus salicis, one of the 

 most salient points of difference being the joints of the antennae. 



The other species described by Buckton in his Monograph are 

 L. picece, which is said to be very abundant on silver fir and also 

 on spruce near London ; L. pi7iicolus, on larch and Scots pine ; and 

 L. macrocephalus, on spruce. 



Genus Phyllaphis. 



The following generic characters are from Buckton : 

 " Bostrum very short. 

 " Head convex, smooth. 



"Antenna moderately long, the third joint about double the 

 length of the fourth; the fifth and sixth joints equal, the sixth 

 furnished with a representative nail. 



" Cornicles hardly visible, and lying flat to the body. 



" Cauda almost obsolete. 

 " Body furnished with 

 long flocks of wool-like fibre 

 of a waxy nature. 



"Wings long and broad. 

 Stigma long and trapezoidal. 

 Nervures not clouded. 

 " Legs moderate in size." 



Fig. 287. Phyllaphis fagi. 



Phyllaphis fagi (Linn.) 



During early May the 

 leaves of beech -trees may 

 be found covered with a white woolly coating, produced by insects 

 known as Phyllaphis fagi. In some cases large beech-trees are so 

 badly attacked as to be partially defoliated in midsummer, and this 

 being the growing season, the increment of the tree must be appreci- 

 ably affected. 



The apterous female is a light-green or yellowish colour. The 

 general colour is, however, rather variable, as the abdomen is marked 

 with spots or bars. The cornicles are rather small, and the joints of 

 the antennae are about equal thickness throughout. 



The Avinged female (fig. 287) is best examined by first dissolving the 



