310 INSECTS AT HOME. 



the female, and may be distinguished by the foim of the 

 a/itennfce. In the female these organs are comparatively 

 simple, as is shown at Fig. e, but in the male they are deeply 

 and doubly toothed, the teeth being very much longer on the 

 inner than on the outer side. One of these antennae is shown 

 on Fig. d. 



In this species, the male and female also differ greatly in 

 colour, the former being wholly black, while the latter is yellow, 

 with a black head, and broad black-grey band across tiie middle 

 of the abdomen. The comparative proportions of yellow and 

 black vary much in different specimens. As its name imports, 

 this insect feeds, while in a larval state, on the pine, and con- 

 sequently is found more plentifully in the northern than in the 

 southern parts of Europe. Happily, in this country, it is 

 rather a scarce insect, but in some of the pine-growing dis- 

 tricts of Northern Europe it does considerable damage. 



The larva which is shown at Fig. 6, is dirty yellow in colour, 

 diversified with black spots arranged longitudinally. Like the 

 larva of the Nematus^ it is social in its habits, and may be found 

 in groups, numbering a hundred or so, upon the pine-trees, 

 feeding upon the leaves. Tlieir mode of eating the needle-like 

 leaves of this tree is from tip to base, and has been graphically 

 compared to the manner in which men eat radishes. When the 

 leaves are finished, the larvae proceed between the young shoots, 

 which they completely strip of their bark, and so proceed from 

 one branch to another, rendering them as leafless as if the 

 trees were dead. 



Owing to the nature of their food, they naturally swallow a 

 large amount of pure resin, and, if they are touched, they allow 

 a drop of liquid resin to flow from their mouths. When they 

 are full-fed they proceed to envelope themselves in cocoons, 

 which are attached to the pine-leaves, and it is remarkable 

 that the cocoons of the female insects are larger than those of 

 the male. One of these cocoons is shown at Fig. c. The 

 perfect insects make their appearance about May. Only a 

 very few British species of this genus are known. 



The Saw-fly which is represented on Plate IX. Fig. 4, belongs 

 to a genus named Lyda, in which the larvae of the different 

 species vary remarkably in their habits. In this genus the 



