380 



Insect Pests. 



Damson plantations often suffer most se\-erely from this blight. 

 A good sliow of blossom may be seen, and Ijy June scarcely a fruitlet 

 or leaf will be on the trees. Plums of all kinds and greengages suffer 

 nearly as severely. Tlie same species may be seen on peach, apricot, 

 apple and, according to Buckton (1), on the aster. It is suliject to 

 considerable variation in size and colour and probalily occurs on 

 other plants, amongst which have been mentioned chrysantliemums 

 and gooseberry. Wild prunes afford a constant means of invasion 

 of our plantations. 'I'his species must not be confused with the Hop- 

 Damson Aphis (Phorodoii hvviiili var. malaheb), easily told by the 

 frontal tubercles, which are alisent in this species. Numerous com- 

 phdnts have been received from the Wlumple area in Devonshire (3), 



I'. /). Jinltniil. 



FIG. 2.''il. — I'LUM LEAA'K.^ OlTvl.KJ' BY Ajilu,-: pn'ni 



as well as Worcestershire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Hampshire, 

 Hertfordshire and Essex. 



Life-Htstoi;y and Habits. 



Tills aphis first makes its appearance in the very early spiing, 

 when we observe small, dark green lice here and there on the shoots. 

 These have come from eggs that have remained all tlie winter upon 

 the plum trees. These lice grow into the wingless viviparous 

 females, large aphides, varying in hue from dull purple to olive- 

 Iji'own. 



These apterous females soon commence to produce living y(uuig, 

 wliii/h ra,pidly mature and produce otlier young. The ymmg pro- 



