12 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



stages (see Figs. 2, 5, and 6) they ascend the tree, the 

 shoots of which they cover in vast numbers, drawing off 

 the sap, so necessary at this period of the tree's existence, 

 and thus causing the young fruit to wither and fall to the 

 ground, and the shoots, which have now put forth their 

 leaves, to assume a sickly appearance, often turning 

 black at the point as if scorched by the sun. 



There has been much speculation amongst growers 

 and others as to whether the Black and the Green Peach 

 Aphis are one and the same species. This matter I have 

 submitted to Mr. Buckton, our best authority on this 

 group, for his opinion, and he says they are different 

 species, and I am indebted to that gentleman for the 

 correct name of the one which we know as the Black 

 Peach Aphis, the Green one being a distinct species of 

 the same genus. 



In many of the aphides the colour would seem to vary 

 in a most remarkable manner, so that it is no difficult 

 matter to fall into an error concerning the names. I 

 mention this fact as there is a discrepancy between our 

 plates and those in Mr. Buckton's fine work on British 

 Aphides, although all in this plate, with the exception of 

 Fig. 5, have been drawn from nature. 



In a former number of the book I have already alluded 

 to the enormous increase which takes place in this group 

 of insects, and have also furnished some particulars which 

 it is perhaps unnecessary to repeat here ; and although 

 such facts, which have been attested to by some of the 

 best naturalists and observers of the day, may cause us 

 to wonder at such a formidable array of figures as those 

 supplied by Bonnet, Keaumur, and* others who have so 

 patiently devoted so much time to such an important 

 subject, it should also be the means of putting us on 

 pur guard and making us the more determined to check 

 if at all possible the enormous increase in pests of this 

 kind. 



Having given you a brief account of the habits and 

 life history of this insect, I must now pass on to what is 

 perhaps the most important part, viz., how to prevent 



