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PLANT. FRIENDS AND PLANT PESTS 



Two valuable garden friends. 



value to man because they lay eggs on the bodies of cater- 

 pillars harmful to vegetation. As these eggs develop the 



young ichneumons 

 live on the body of 

 the caterpillar and 

 eventually kill it. 

 Some beetles are 

 of use as garden 

 friends, especially 

 the " lady bug " or 

 lady bird beetle, 



which feeds upon plant lice or aphids. Some insects feed 



upon weeds and they too can be classed as our friends. 

 Other garden friends. 



Insects and some animals, 



such as field mice, are kept 



under control by birds. Our 



neighbor the robin, whom 



we sometimes begrudge a 



few cherries, is of more use 



than harm because of his 



insect diet. Our earliest 



visitor, the bluebird, lives 



largely on injurious insects, 



as do the woodpeckers, 



cuckoos, kingbirds, and 



many others. Many birds 



live upon insects which are 



most numerous around them. 



When great numbers of in- 

 sects are present, birds do an Food of some common birds. Which of 



the above birds should be protected by 



immense amount Of gOOd. man and why ? 



AMERICAN CROW 



ENGLISH SPARROW 



