Appendix Entomology of the Rose. 367 



draw upon us they assume a tinge of red. These are generally known as the Rose Bedeguar, 

 and the insect which produces them (Cynips rosce) is the Bedeguar Gall Fly. In the spring the 

 female fly selects a young growing branch, and by means of an elaborate ovipositor with 

 which nature has provided her, makes number of incisions in the bark, placing an egg in each. 

 The sap being thus interrupted in its natural course gathers and solidifies, forming a mass of 

 hard woody matter which serves for food to the young larvae, and if this woody formation be 

 cut open it will disclose a number (varying in different cases) of chambers, each tenanted by a 

 white grub or maggot. These change to pupae of the same colour either in autumn or spring, 

 and the perfect fly is disclosed in the latter season. It is somewhat difficult to account for the 

 mossy substance which envelopes the mass, and in which the chief beauty of the object 

 consists. Bennie conjectures that a certain amount of the sap escaping through the pores of 

 the fibre of the chambers inhabited by the grubs, instead of being evaporated and lost, shoots 

 out into these fibrous bristles ; and it may be remarked that these bristles are not simple, but 

 covered with a number of small spines which branch out in various directions, the counter- 

 part, so to speak, on a small scale of the thorns which are present on the branch of the Bose. 

 It is certain, however, that the larvae must find them of great service in preserving them 

 from the cold of winter. The perfect fly measures a line and a half in length. The antenna 

 are black, thick, and cylindrical, half as long again as the head ; the eyes are brown, the 

 head and thorax black, the body reddish brown. It seems to be generally attached to the 

 common Dog-Rose, but is often to be seen on the Sweet Brier and occasionally on garden 

 Roses. Mr Westwood makes mention of another species (Aylax Brandtii) which is found 

 in company with C. rosce inhabiting the same gall. 



Three other gall insects infest the Rose, but not to such a degree as to become prejudicial to 

 its welfare. The gall of the first of these, Rhodites eglanterice, we have found on the Dog-Rose. 

 It is always placed on the under side of the leaf ; it is perfectly round in shape, about the size of 

 a pea. In colour it is bright apple-green, with a dull reddish patch on one side, which gradually 

 shades off; it is not at all striped or streaked; the surface of the gall appears to be rather rough. 

 Only one larva inhabits each gall. 



The gall formed by another kind of Rhodites (R. rosarum) is very pretty. It is bright green 

 in colour, and ornamented with several long spikes which are tinged with red. It does not 

 seem to be a common species. In the "Entomologist's Annual" for 1872 it is mentioned as 

 being found on the White Cluster Rose as well as on the Dog-Rose, but we have never met 

 with it excepting on the latter. 



The third species we give on the authority of the "Entomological Annual" above quoted. 

 It is named Rhodites spinosissimce, and is described as "bred from polythalamous fiery red 

 galls, of irregular size and shape, on Rosa spinosissima. The galls are berry, egg, or cushion 

 shaped, and frequently beset or bordered with short spines." 



To the disfigurement of the leaves of our Rose bushes no insect is more devoted than a species 

 of Upholsterer Bee (Megachile centuncularis). During the summer months they may be 

 observed at work at all times during the day, but especially in the early morning in sunny 

 weather. For the construction of their nests this section makes use of living vegetable 

 substances ; one species hangs its dwelling with the scarlet petals of the poppy, whilst the 

 one under notice uses for its purpose particles of Rose leaves. It is interesting to watch 

 the operations of this insect. After flying about a Rose bush for a few minutes it will select 

 a suitable leaf, and clasping the edge with its feet, cuts out a large semi-circular piece by 

 moans of its strong and sharp mandible. Having accomplished this, without leaving hold 

 of the piece of leaf (which is usually larger than the insect itself), it carries it between its 

 feet, and flies off to its nest, which is situated underground either in a pathway or some 

 other spot where the earth is sufficiently hard for the purpose. On windy days it is often 



