76 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



HOMOPTERA. APHHXE. 

 APHIS. 



Generic Distinctions. Antenna filiform, seven-jointed ; elytra 

 larger than the wings ; body generally horned towards the apex ; 

 wings either four, or entirely wanting. 



APHIS ~Rosm (Plate XV.) is generally of a green colour ; 

 the tips of the antennae, and horns, black ; tail pointed. 

 These insects may be found in February, when the weather 

 is sufficiently warm, and are produced from oval black eggs 

 deposited in the autumn. They reach maturity in April, 

 after twice casting their skins ; and early in June, some of 

 the third generation, after throwing off their last covering, 

 are found to possess four wings, which had been folded 

 into a very small compass, but now extend in a beautiful 

 manner to their proper form and dimensions. 



APHIS HUMULI infests the Hop, and the importance of 

 this apparently insignificant insect may be gathered from 

 the following account given in the " British Cyclopaedia of 

 Natural History : " " In the year 1802 the hop duty fell 

 from 100,000 to 14,000, on account of the great in- 

 crease of the Aphis ; in 1825, from 130,000 to 22,000 ; 

 and in the following year, which was remarkably dry and 



