I 



INSECTS ATTACKING FLOWERS. 



RED SPIDER. 

 (Tetranychus telarius Linn.; Order, Acarina.) 



Diagnosis. A minute, red mite on lower surface of leaves of 

 house plants, spinning fine webs; the leaves turning yellow, with- 

 ering, and falling off. 



Description and Life-history. The " Red Spider " is not a spider, 

 but a mite, belonging to the same insect order as the flour and 

 cheese mites (which are white instead of red). 

 Under a microscope, (for the Red Spider is so 

 small as to appear to the naked eye merely as 

 a fine, red speck,) the little pest will be seen to 

 have four pairs of legs, and to have mouth-parts 

 fitted for piercing and sucking. The mite in- 

 serts its tiny beak into the leaf and sucks the life 

 juices from the plant. The mites are usually 

 FIG 58 BED SPIDER sma ^ colonies, under a fine, transparent web. 

 greatly enlarged. ' Remedies. The Red Spider does not like a 

 damp atmosphere ; if the plants are well watered daily, our little 

 pest will be seriously discouraged. 



Spraying the plants with soap-suds, tobacco water, or kerosene 

 emulsion (see p. 9), the last being best of all, will effectually keep 

 the Red Spider down. 



Kansas Notes. Kansas housewives have been troubled by this 

 pest whenever and wherever they have attempted to beautify their 

 homes with the presence of flowers. 



ROSE SLUG. 



(Selandria rosce Harr.; Order, Hymenoptera.) 

 Diagnosis. A soft, greenish or yellowish, slug-like worm, about 

 one-half an inch long, eating large, irregular patches in the upper 

 surface of rose leaves ; the leaves appear as if scorched, and drop off. 



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