THE BLACK PEACH APHIS. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE BLACK PEACH APHIS. 



(Myzus cerasi. Fab?\) 



Order: Hemiptera. Sub-order: Homoptera. Family: Aphididce. 



This is one of the two kinds of Aphis so much dreaded 

 by growers of peaches throughout the colony. It is an 

 introduction from Europe, where, according to Buckton, 

 it does much injury to the cherry orchards in early spring, 

 when they cluster by thousands under the leaves and dry 

 them up as if scorched by heat. Fitch, in America, 

 counted 190 ranged down the mid-rib of one leaf. They 

 choke and gum up the pores of the leaves by the secre- 

 tion which they eject from their conicles, or leaf-like 

 processes. On account of this sweet substance the 

 affected branches are much visited by ants, of which the 

 little black one, with a vile smell, and a perfect terror to 

 housewives, would appear to be the most common here. 



To those unacquainted with the appearance of a peach 

 tree which has been attacked by the Black Aphis, it may 

 be pointed out that the small branches are mostly bent 

 downward and otherwise twisted, often assuming a burnt 

 and blackened appearance. This is a sure sign, and 

 may be relied upon. 



In England, Mr. Wallace states, two swarms usually 

 occur in the year with a certain interval, one in June 

 and the other in October. During the latter period the 

 male makes its appearance. He describes them as 

 being wholly black, and probably the older specimens are 

 so coloured. 



How long ago it is since the first advent of this pest 

 into Victoria I am unable to say with any degree of cer- 

 tainty ; but fruit-growers in this colony will well remember 

 the time when peaches around Melbourne grew and 



