PINE SAW-FLY. 309 



two marginal and four siibmarginal cells, and the abdomen is 

 rather long and flattened. The present species differs con- 

 siderably in colour, according to the sex, the male being 

 almost entirely yellow, while the female is black, with a 

 broad yellow band or zone across the body, as is seen in the 

 illustration. The specific name zonatus, or banded, refers to 

 this yellow belt in the female. The male is rather smaller 

 than the female, but his inferiority in size is compensated by 

 the superior brilliancy of his colour. 



Most persons who possess, or who take an interest in gardens, 

 have noticed how liable is the gooseberry to be destroyed by a 

 caterpillar-like grub. This is the larva of a Saw-fly called 

 Xematus grossularicc, an insect which is more pretty than it is 

 agreeable. The insects of this genus have nine joints to the 

 antennjE, and in the wings there are one marginal and four 

 submarginal cells, into the second of which run two 'recurrent 

 nerves.' The tarsi are not dilated. 



When these larvse take possession of the gooseberries, it is 

 most difficult to extirpate them, and I believe that nothing 

 but handpicking will answer the purpose. Mr. Waterton's 

 plan of ' dishing ' the gooseberries, i.e., cutting away the centre 

 and training the branches so as to radiate in the form of a 

 hollow cone reversed, makes this operation much easier, as well 

 as permits the gooseberries to be gathered without risk of 

 pricking the fingers. As manf^ as a thousand larvae have been 

 found on a single gooseberry bush, and as there are two broods 

 in a year, the mischief which they can do is almost incalculable. 



Throughout their imperfect stages, these creatures are social, 

 and their cocoons may be found in great numbers, attached to 

 each other by their ends. The colour of the larvae is a smooth 

 leaden hue, and across their bodies are many rows of tiny 

 black, hair-bearing warts. There are many species of this genus, 

 which feed upon various trees, and which do much damage, 

 not only in the orchard but in plantations, the willow, alder, 

 osier, &c., being specially subject to their attacks. 



On Woodcut XXX. Fig. 4, is a slightly magnified figure of 

 a Saw-fly with rather curious habits. This is the Pine Saw- 

 FLT {Lophyrus pini). In this genus the male is always less than 



