Slimy Grub of the Pear Tree. 



483 



123 





of a dark greenish-black colour, with the belly dirty clay- 

 coloured. Whilst feeding, the front of the body is inflated 

 {Jig. 123. b, the ventral aspect of the larva whilst inflated), and 

 the hinder segments narrowed ; so that the insect somewhat re- 

 sembles a minute tadpole, or, rather, the excrement of a swallow 

 or sparrow accidentally dropped upon the leaves, which is in- 

 creased both by its colour and slimy coat. On denuding it of 

 this covering, the body appears of a fleshy consistence and 

 wrinkled surface {fig. 123. c, magnified). It is furnished on the 

 under side with twenty feet, a pair being attached to each of the 

 thoracic segments : the fourth segment is footless ; and each of 

 the seven succeeding segments has a pair of fore legs, the ex- 

 tremity of the body being destitute of these appendages. The 

 head {fig. 123. d, seen in front) is somewhat convex, of a trian- 

 gular form, with the angles rounded. Neck narrower than the 

 thorax, of a pitchy-brown colour, with the mouth dirty buff". 

 The upper lip gibbous and semilunar. The mandibles {fig.\2^.e) 

 with three teeth. The lower jaws {fig. 1 23. y) furnished with 

 very short 3-jointed palpi; and the lower lip {fig- 123.^) small, 

 flat, bipartite, and furnished likewise with very short palpi. The 

 antennae minute, inserted near the sides of the clypeus, and of 

 a conical form. The eyes lateral, globose, and placed above 

 the antennae. The breathing-pores brown. The viscid fluid 

 with which the body is covered appears to exude from the 

 articulations of the joints of the body, since, on rubbing it off^ 

 the insect swells itself out at the joints, and shortly afterwards a 

 fresh secretion is seen to take place. After castuig its penultimate 

 larva skin, the power of secreting this liquid appears to be lost; 

 the body, also, becomes of a conical-cylindric form, without the 

 inflation of the thoracic segments. It also assumes a clay 

 colour. 



Dahlbom {Clavis Nov. Hym, Syst., 1835) mentions Pyrus, 

 Primus, Cratse^gus, and iSalix, as being liable to the attacks of 

 this larva. During the day, it remains quiet on the leaf, with 



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