352 Insect Pests. 



PEAR APHIDES. 



{Aphis pyraria, Passerini, and A. pyri, Fons.) 



Two species of aphides occur on the pear in Great Britain, but no 

 complaints of damage caused by them have been received. 



Buckton (1) refers to Aphis pyraria as occurring for two consecutive 

 years on a tree and giving it the appearance of having been dusted 

 with soot. The tree was nearly stripped of its leaves and wholly 

 gummed over by the aphis secretions. This was at Haslemere in 

 August. Later in the year he received specimens of what appeared 

 to be this aphis from dahlias at Clifton. 



The wingless female is sooty-black or bluish-brown, covered by 

 a cottony pile ; legs bright yellow, and the young white, with dark 

 honey-tubes and red eyes. The winged female has a yellow abdomen 

 with numerous brown bands and spots; the adult winged form is 

 greenish-black or sooty-brown ; antennae and legs yellow. 



The second species, Aphis pyri, I have found in Kent on pears, 

 curling up the young leaves and giving them a yellow and red 

 appearance. 



Buckton records this aphis from the crab apple at Blackheath, 

 where it rolled and distorted the leaves causing them " to change to 

 a, yellow or fine red colour." 



I have only seen the wingless viviparous female, v/hich varied 

 from olive-green to brown or olive, the abdomen with dark marks, 

 legs dull green to brown ; the whole insect is slightly hairy ; the 

 pupal stage is pale salmon to pink. The winged female is described 

 by Buckton as being warm sienna-brown, with black abdominal 

 bands and three spots on each side, ginger-yellow legs, black cornicles 

 and antennae. 



I noticed the apterous females at Wye in June, and they soon 

 commenced to curl the leaves beneath which they sheltered. No 

 trace could be seen of them in July. 



Spraying with soft soap and quassia or tobacco wash would be 

 sufficient in an attack of this kind. 



THE PEAR THRIPS. 



{Thrips physopus, Linn., and T. flava, Schr.) 



Carpenter (1 and 2) refers to Thrips on pears in Ireland damaging 

 the blossoms near Dublin. 



An allied insect has been fully described by Moulton (3) in 

 America. 



