Galls caused by the queen and larvae of Brachycolus 

 stellariae Hardy 



the leaves of Stellaria holostea Linn. 



PLATE 102. 



Synonymy of Insect. 



Aphis stellaricB Hardy. 

 „ Jwlci Hardy 

 Habitat of the Stitchwort.— Abundant all over Britain 



in hedges, open woods, and bu.shy places. Flowers during 



the spring and early summer. 

 The Gall is formed by the punctures of the queen and 



larvae producing an accumulation of sap. 

 Manner of Growth.— The blade of the leaf is caused to 



curl upwards and inwards until the edges meet and form 



a pod. 

 Colour.— The outside of the pod is slightly paler than that 



of an unaffected leaf. 

 Average Dimensions of a Mature Specimen. 



Length, 24 mm. ; girth, 10 mm. 

 May be sought during the months of May, June, and July. 

 The Growth is complete by the end of June. 

 The Typical Condition of the gall is multilarval. 

 ECDYSIS takes place in the gall. The imagines emerge during 



July. 



These galls are inconspicuous. Much resembling the tufts 

 of leaves drawn together by lepidopterous larvae, they are 

 probably often passed over as such. Buckton thus describes 

 the imago : " Body long and narrow, yellow or black ; with 

 mealy coat with which it lines the surfaces of the tufts of 

 leaves within which it conceals itself; legs slightly pubescent" 

 ("British Aphides," vol. ii., p. 147)- 

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