1918.] BASHAMBAR Das: The Aphididae of Lahore. 3 163 
- M. granarium can be collected from wheat or avena blades as early as Novem- 
ber, when the avena or wheat seedlings are hardly a few inches high. It continues 
throughout the winter, till the wheat is removed from the fields in early April. 
At this time it clusters round a common graminous weed, a species of Agrostis ; 
even parasitised females flock to this grass, but what occurs to them later has not 
been followed out. 
Parasitisation of this species is very extensive. 
Macrosiphum sanborni (Gillette). 
Host.—Cultivated Chrysanthemums. 
Literature :— 
Sanborn, Kans. Univ. Sc. Bull.. vol. III, ı (under Siphonophora chrysanthemi). 
Gillette, Can. Entom., vol. L, 2, p. 65, 1908. 
Jour. Econ. Entom., vol. IV, p. 385, 1911 (antennae and cornicles figured). 
This Aphid as found in the Punjab is identical with the American species, only 
our early winter specimens are larger. 
Biology and life-history.—This species first appears on Eh anthemiims in late 
September or early October. It appears certain that these are the ‘‘ stem-mothers ” 
hatched from eggs, laid at some previous time upon these plants. They are very 
large and are all apterous. One or more isolated specimens may be found on each 
plant with a small brood of a few young that are vermillion red. Soon after this the 
numbers increase and after the second generation alate females develop which spread ~ 
the species. This process continues till December. 
The shining red-brown insects cluster on the tops of young shoots and only when 
very numerous attack the veins of the leaves as shown in the plate. 
They sit in rows upon the angles of the twigs with their heads directed down- 
wards. The slender beak can be readily withdrawn and the insects drop to the 
ground even at the suspicion of alarm. 
They have a curious habit of swinging or jerking their bodies from side to side 
with the long hind legs dangling in the air. This is done almost rhythmically; all 
the members of the colony take part in it and keep time with a regular swing; all the 
time the beaks remain inserted. This habit probably keeps them safe from parasites. 
The species becomes scarce in December when the sap in the plants is diminished 
after the flowering period is over. The few survivors are stunted in size. 
In January again a few shoots begin to sprout, but are abundant only in Febru- 
ary and March. In the latter months the insects are again active on the new leafy 
branches. After April they entirely disappear leaving no visible trace behind. 
A few attempts were made to secure the sexuales but were unsuccessful. 
Its enemies are chiefly Chilomeles sexmacalata, the young of a Mantid and small 
species of Syrphids. 
Systematic.—In the structure of its cornicles and cauda it differs materially 
from typical species of the genus Macrosiphum. The following points may be specially 
noted :— / 
