280 



Insect Pests. 



LiFE-HlSTOEY AND HaIUTS, 



This acariis lieloi\ns to the .q-emis Briiohia, whicli is easily told 

 from the IJeil Spiiler of plums, hops, etc., Titm iiyrlmfi, by the first 

 pair of ]e!4's heinn' iimch Ioniser than the I'est, and all the legs longer 

 than ill Td lanijcli im. 



In colour tliis mite is ^■ery variahle : some are giey, others greenish, 

 others rnsty red; some liave red and brown coloration, yet others 

 leaden grey or firi^ht red ; the legs are pale or dull reddish. In size, 

 large mature specimens may reach nearh' T.b-inch. 



They collect in dull breather in early spring in crevices on the 

 wood or under the loosened skin upon it. So densely are they often 

 packed together that they look like one red 

 mass, their legs tucked under their bodies. 



I have noticed that in this stage they are 

 fre(|uently of a rich red hue, almost crimson- 

 lake. I have found them like this early in 

 Fcliruary, both in Kent and Camfiridgeshire, 

 in a semi-dormant condition. As soon as the 

 young leaves show they are ready to move, 

 the first warm sunny day they get on to the 

 lea\'es and commence to feed and gradually 

 mature. At night tliey return to their shelter, 

 and also on dull damp days. Thev feed 

 mainly on the undersides of the leaves, and 

 the attack usually seems to start in the 

 centre of the bu.shes and spreads outwards. 

 In April or e\en ilarcli they mav have started to reproduce, when 

 minute round globular shiny reddish eggs are laid on the twi-s, base 

 of tlie thorns, and on and between tlm old l)ud scales. These eo-gs, 

 which can only be seen with a magnifving glass unless jai.fin 

 large masses, hatch in iViur or five days into ^snwll semi-transparent 

 vouug witli SIX legs, these s..on commence to I'eed, m another four 

 days moult and become like the adult ; two more moults appear to 

 take place, and tlien at the end of twelve to fourteen davs thev are 

 ready to reproduce again. 



What happens l,etweeu June and the following Februarv is not 

 deiniitelv known, l)ut one mav fin.l the ova and immature mite.s on 

 the wood at Cliristmas, and it is i.robablc that most of tlie e--o-. laid 

 m June remain until the winter, and that a few'onlv hatcli onrbelbre 

 -lebniaiv and :\[arcli and Idbernale on tlie bushes. AYhat reoulates 



y\r.. ini.-TIIK IV 

 (l.'l-r;iriv cllljll- 



