THRIPS. 1Q9 



Thrips physapus of Linnaeus, which is a very small, 

 slender insect, of a black colour, very frequently 

 seen during the spring and summer on various 

 flowers, more especially on what are termed the 

 compound flowers, as Dandelion, &c. It wanders 

 about the petals of the flower, descending to the 

 bottom of the florets, occasionally emerging at in- 

 tervals, and often skipping from place to place, in 

 performing which action it is observed suddenly to 

 turn back its abdomen, so as nearly to touch the 

 thorax with its tip. The wings are of a semi- 

 transparent white, narrow, and when properly 

 magnified, are observed to be edged and tipped 

 with hairs growing gradually longer as they ap- 

 proach the tips, where they are of considerable 

 length: the lower wings are rather shorter than 

 the upper, beneath which they are, in general, 

 almost concealed : the antennae consist of six 

 joints, and the feet are tipped with an expansile 

 and apparently vesicular process, enabling the 

 little animal to adhere at pleasure with the greater 

 security to any particular substance. All these 

 particulars require a microscope for their investi- 

 gation, the whole insect not exceeding the tenth 

 of an inch in length. The larva in a great degree 

 resembles the complete insect, but is destitute of 

 wings: when very young it is white, and after- 

 wards of a yellowish or reddish colour, and like 

 the complete insect, is seen wandering about the 

 petals of flowers. 



The Thrips physapus has been supposed to do 

 much injury to wheat, rye, &c.. by causing the 



