Rose Friends and Foes. 95 



Ichneumon Flies. 



Quite a number of species of the Ichneumonidce render 

 splendid service to the Rose-cultivator by reason of their 

 parasitic habits. As larvae they live inside certain Lepido- 

 pterous larvae, thus tending to preserve the balance in Nature. 

 The " ichneumoned " caterpillars of the White Butterflies 

 are objects that are familiar to almost every schoolboy. 

 Ichneumon Flies belong to the order Hymenoptera, thus 

 being allied to Bees, Ants, and Wasps. 



June Bugs and Cockchafers (Phyllopertha horticola and 

 Melolontha vulgaris). 



As in the case of the Rose-chafer, the Bracken Clocks 

 (P. horticola) are addicted to the gnawing of the organs of 



Female and Male Cockchafers (Melolontha vulgaris). 



reproduction of Roses, and are most objectionable on that 

 account. They resemble small Cockchafers (M . vulgaris). 

 This latter is no less injurious, as the perfect insects 

 will attack the leafage of Roses ; while the larvae feed on 

 the roots of many plants. Beetles, so well known, do not 

 call for any description, more especially as we give an 

 excellent illustration of the larger insects the Cockchafers. 

 During dull weather the creatures may be shaken into an 

 opened umbrella and destroyed. They are on the wing 

 during May, June, and July, and the June Bugs may often 

 be captured in numbers by the aid of a butterfly-net. 



