336 



Insect Pests. 



The insects appear in early June in very small numbers, and soon 

 commence, if the weather is fine, to lay their eggs. 



Each ovum is de- 

 posited in asemicircular 

 slit cut by the " saws " 

 of the female on the 

 underside of the leaf, 

 but now and then it 

 seems to be laid on the 

 upper surface. A small 

 pale spot marks the 

 point of insertion of 

 the ovum. 



The egg, which is 

 white and oval, hatches 

 in seven days. The 

 young larva escapes in 

 most circumstances on 

 the upper surface of 

 the leaf. 



It is at first pale, 

 and after a few days 

 a dark greenish slime 

 ot'zes from its skin. 



Four moults of the skin seem to take place. During most of their 

 life they are bottle-green in colour, dirty pale yellow below, very 



FIG. 221. 8LUGWORMS. 



(The one on the right at its last stage.) ( x 2.) 



FIG. 222. SLUGWiiUMS ciX CHK11KY LEAF. 



[/'. Edenden. 



shiny and disgusting in appearance ; the larvie swell out on the 

 front end ; the head is hidden in a kind of hood-like mass formed 



