869 



On the Occurrence of Certain Insects in 1880. By James 

 Hardy. 



The year 1880 offered some remarkable instances of tlie 

 prevalence of certain insects in excessive numbers, of wliicli I 

 have collected a few examples within the district, to place among 

 the periodical events of the seasons, which from time to time 

 have been commemorated in the '' Proceedings" of the Club. 



Aphides. In the early part of the summer, towards the end 

 of June, Aphides swarmed on the terminal shoots of leaves of 

 gooseberries and black currants. These were ApUs Grossularice, 

 a green coloured species, which was acquiring wings about July 

 13th. There was an additional species {Aphis Ribis) on the 

 leaves of the black currant, which caused the bushes to become 

 defoliated. To keep down the gooseberry species, the tufts of 

 terminal leaves on which it clustered, required to be pinched off • 

 On July 13 the white-throats, as well as a pair of house-sparrows, 

 were very actively engaged feeding on these Aphids. The crop 

 of black currant berries was a failure. These Aphids were gen- 

 erally prevalent. About the same period the young shoots of 

 hawthorn were much kept back by crowds of the slate coloured 

 Aphis Crataegi, as well as by mildew, that considerably im- 

 paired the fine verdure of the hedgerows, which the previous 

 winter's frost had also helped to blight. Eoses also became very 

 unsightly by the attacks of Aphis Roses, and there might be other 

 species present. The double-red Lychms diurna, a showy and 

 long flowering borderer, completely lost its beauty, till July rains 

 washed a portion of its enemies off, being overloaded with Aphis 

 Lychnidis. Sieracium aurantiacum, a plant not easily made to 

 auccumb, was greatly oppressed with Aphis Hieracii. At Chirn- 

 side I observed Phyllaphis Fagi on beech fences ; but not else- 

 where ; neither it, nor the blanks occasioned by its presence, 

 could be detected at Morpeth. In autumn the leaves of limes at 

 Tyninghame were much besmeared with honey-dew. The insects 

 however — which being spotted winged are rather pretty, were 

 then in a quiescent state. 



There is a puzzling species of Aphis which roUs the margins 

 of the leaves of the smooth-f oliaged variety of Eieracium vulgatum, 

 where it grows in crevices among the cliffs of Silurian rocks 

 between Eedheugh and Dowlaw. The winged state has not yet 

 teen observed. Mr. Buckton says it is a Siphomphora, but pro- 



