CHERMES. 187 



secretes the white fibres from large pores placed 

 in a circle at some distance from the vent. These 

 larvae are gregarious, often appearing in such 

 numbers on the shoots of the tree that the whole 

 shoot appears covered with white cotton, which, if 

 touched by the finger, separates into distinct tufts 

 from the animals' being suddenly disturbed and 

 moving in all directions. When this cotton is 

 brushed off, the larva appears of a pale green 

 colour, varied with black spots, which on the 

 upper part of the abdomen are disposed in two 

 longitudinal rows: the tip of the abdomen is also 

 black. When arrived at its complete or perfect 

 state by casting its pupa skin, it is entirely green, 

 with transparent wings veined with green and 

 slightly shaded with brown. If disturbed, it leaps 

 with much agility, frequently flying at the same 

 time. 



Chermes Pyri is nearly of similar size with the 

 former, and is found on the leaves of the common 

 pear-tree: its colour is a greenish brown, varied 

 with deeper streaks, and the wings are nearly trans- 

 parent, spotted with brown: the larva of this species 

 is of a greenish brown, with darker spots, and 

 is nearly naked, or destitute of the cottony secre- 

 tion so remarkable on that of the preceding, but 

 is beset with short whitish hairs towards the hinder 

 part of the body. 



Chermes Bu.vi is a beautiful little insect, of a 

 bright grass-green colour, with the wings of a 

 similar cast. Its larva resides on the young shoots 



