INSECTS, MITES, ETC 259 



buds and leaves of cdirysanthemums. This insect is like 

 a large aphis in shape and colour, and measures just 

 under a quarter of an inch in length. It punctures the 

 epidermis of the young leaves and the points of the shoots, 

 causing them to turn brown and shrivel. Yet another 

 species, Phytocoris campestris, is reputed to injure chry- 

 santhemum buds, points of the shoots, and j'oung foliage, 

 the parts attacked having the appearance of having been 

 poisoned. Wherever the shoots wither, turn black, or curl 

 up very much, it may be taken for granted that one of 

 the foregoing pests is the culprit. 



Remedies.— r To catch the bugs hold a butterfly-net or 

 a cloth in front of the plant, and suddenly, but carefully, 

 shake the shoots over this. The bugs will fall off imme- 

 diately. Syringing with one of the remedies advised for 

 Aphides will also prove effectual. 



Red^ Spider. — This is a formidable plant pest, and 

 one usually very prevalent in greenhouses where sufftcient 

 attention has not been paid to moisture and ventilation. 

 It is a minute creature, orange or red in colour, and much 

 resembling a spider in miniature. It is popularly spoken 

 of as an insect, but it is not; it is a mite. Like the true 

 spider, it also spins a web on the leaves on wdiich it feeds. 

 It first cuts a hole in the leaf by means of its mandibles, 

 then thrusts in its sucker and extracts the juices. Hun- 

 dreds and thousands of these are often to be met with on 

 a leaf, protected by a fine web. Needless to say, such a 

 large number of these creatures in a small space do an 

 incalculable amount of injury to the foliage by robbing it 

 of its proper nourishment. No wonder, then, that the 

 leaves soon assume a yellowish tinge, become unhealthy, 

 and speedily die. 



Remedies. — A hot, dry atmosphere is favourable to the 

 increase of Red Spider; consequently, the best way to 

 keep it at bay is to preserve, as far as possible, a moist 

 atmosphere by syringing the walls, foliage, and paths 

 daily; or, where this cannot be done, by sprinkling flowers 



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