232 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



Aunt M. Is the proboscis very long ? 



Harriet. Not very. 



Aunt M. No, I see that it is not more than 

 one-third the length of its body. This is most 

 common ; but in some species, it is so long that 

 when the insect walks, it is folded under the 

 body, and extends even beyond the tail. 



Although the Aphides appear motionless when 

 thus clustered together on a branch, they are far 

 from idle. Each little proboscis is thrust into 

 the stem, and each little Aphis is busily em- 

 ployed in sucking the juices it contains. Some- 

 times, however, they are so piled upon each 

 other that they cannot all get a chance at once, 

 and some of them are obliged to wait, or betake 

 themselves to another part of the plant. 



Aphides exist in countless multitudes, and 

 there are numerous varieties of them. They 

 may be found upon almost every tree and plant; 

 the stems, the leaves, and even the roots, are 

 often covered with them. Some are green, 

 some brown, some black, others red ; and in- 

 deed they are of almost every color. 



The eggs are as various in color as the insects 

 themselves. In one respect they differ material- 



