Slimij Grub of the Pear Tree. 



483 



123 



of a dark greenish-black colour, with the belly dirty clay- 

 coloured. Whilst feeding, the front of the body is inflated 

 {Jig. 123. h, the ventral aspect of the larva whilst inflated), and 

 the hinder segments narrowed ; so that the insect somewhat re- 

 sembles a minute tadpole, or, rather, the excrement of a swallow 

 or sparrow accidentally dropped upon the leaves, which is in- 

 creased both by its colour and slimy coat. On denuding it of 

 this covering, the body appears of a fleshy consistence and 

 wrinkled surface {Jig. 123. c, magnified). It is furnished on the 

 under side with twenty feet, a pair being attached to each of the 

 thoracic segments : the fourth segment is footless ; and each of 

 the seven succeeding segments has a pair of fore legs, the ex- 

 tremity of the body being destitute of these appendages. The 

 head (j%. 123. d, seen in front) is somewhat convex, of a trian- 

 gular form, with the angles rounded. Neck narrower than the 

 thorax, of a pitchy-brown colour, with the mouth dirty buff". 

 The upper lip gibbous and semilunar. The mandibles (^^■.123. e) 

 with three teeth. The lower jaws {Jig. 1 23. y) furnished with 

 very short 3-jointed palpi; and the lower lip {fg- 123.^) small, 

 flat, bipartite, and furnished likewise with very short palpi. The 

 antennffi minute, inserted near the sides of the clypeus, and of 

 a conical form. The eyes lateral, globose, and placed above 

 the antennae. The breathing-pores brown. The viscid fluid 

 with which the body is covered appears to exude from the 

 articulations of the joints of the body, since, on rubbing it offj 

 the insect swells itself out at the joints, and shortly afterwards a 

 fresh secretion is seen to take place. After casting its penultimate 

 larva skin, the power of secreting this liquid appears to be lost; 

 the body, also, becomes of a conical-cylindric form, without the 

 inflation of the thoracic segments. It also assumes a clay 

 colour. 



Dahlbom {Clavis Nov. Hym. Si/sf., 1835) mentions Pyrus, 

 Priinus, Cratae^gus, and (Salix, as being liable to the attacks of 

 this larva. During the day, it remains quiet on the leaf, with 



II 2 



