CHAPTER XL 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE BLOSSOM AND FBUIT, AND 

 SCAVENGER INSECTS. 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE BLOSSOMS. 



During the season of blooming, insects of many species are seen flit- 

 ting about the trees, attracted thither by the fragrance of the blossoms, 

 and feeding upon the nectar, which they secrete in abundance. The 

 greater number of these visitors are not only harmless to the plant, but 

 are even of the greatest service, in securing the fertilization of the flow- 

 ers, which could not otherwise be accomplished. 



In fact, it is a fair inference that its fragrance and its sweets serve 

 no other purpose in the economy of the flower than to call to its aid 

 friendly insects which, in their restless movements from flower to flower, 

 bear with them and distribute widely the fertilizing pollen dust. 



A few injurious insects, however, frequent the blossoms. These are 

 all sucking-bugs, and they cause the buds to blast and the flowers to 

 fall prematurely, by tapping the juices from their stems and other parts. 

 Among the most injurious are the Green Plant-bug, Raphigaster hilaris 

 Fitch, mentioned in. the preceding chapter, and the Leaf-footed Bug, 

 Leptoglossus phyllopus (Linn.), an insect which will be considered among 

 those especially injurious to the fruit. 



THBIPS TRITICI (?) Fitch. 



[Fig. 77.] 



By far the most common insect found in orange blossoms is a little 

 yellowish bug, whose slender body measures but l mm (^-5- inch) in 

 length. The color of the eyes is dark red or brown ; all the other parts 

 are clear honey yellow. The adults have narrow wings fringed with 

 hairs. These hairs are characteristic of the family, and replace the 

 membranous parts of the wing of most other insects. 



Notwithstanding the rudimentary structure of their wings, these in- 

 sects are capable of active flight, and they also have the power of leap- 

 ing. 



The Orange Thrips inhabits all sweet-scented flowers. In Lilies and 

 Eoses, as well as in orange blossoms, they sometimes swarm in countless 

 numbers, and do great damage whenever they become unduly abundant. 



From orange blossoms they are seldom wholly absent. They appear 

 however to feed for the most part upon the stamens and petals, from 

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