APPLE-TRUNK BUPRESTIS THE LARVA. 27 



how important it is for us to be acquainted with our insects in 

 the diflerent stages of their lives, that we may be able to discrimi- 

 nate friends from foes, and know which to destroy and which to 

 cherish. 



The preparatory states of but a very few species of the exten- 

 sive family of insects to which the borer now under consideration 

 belongs, appear to have been hitherto noticed ; and, so far as I am 

 able to ascertain, the only figure of a larva like this which infests 

 our Apple trees, which has yet been published, is that of Jlgrilus 

 Fagi, in Dr. Ratzeburg's work on the Forest Insects of Europe, 

 (plate ii, fig. 8 c.) 



The form of this borer is quite singular, and bears some resemblaDce to that of a 

 tadpole, or a battledoor. It consists of a very large, round, flattened portion, ante- 

 riorly, which is suddenly tapered into a long cylindrical tail or handle-like portion. 

 The broad anterior part of this worm is about two-tenths of an inch in diameter and 

 the narrow posterior part is but half as wide. Its length is about 0.65. It is soft, 

 flesh-like, and of a pale yellow color. In front two short robust 

 jaws of a deep black color and highly polished are slightly pro- 

 truded. When these are spread apart the tips of the feelers and 

 between them the lips are perceptible. The head is blackish 

 brown and polished, and is deeply sunk into the second segment. 

 Near each outer angle of the head is a small, pale yellow, bead- 

 like protuberance, which is probably the antenna. In I>r. Eatze- 

 burg's figure, above alluded to, this slight protuberance is repre- 

 sented, probably incorrectly, as arising fiom the second segment. 

 The second segment is deeplj sunk into the third, and like all the 

 remaining segments is pale yellow, and clothed with short minute hairs. The third 

 or large segment is rather more broad than long, and is round and flattened above 

 and beneath. Its upper side is occupied by a large, callous-like, transverse-oval ele- 

 vation, the surface of which is flat and covered with numerous brown raised points, 

 and in the middle are two smooth impressed lines, which diverge fi-om the anterior 

 to the posterior margin. Between these, on the middle of the basal edge, is a more- 

 faiutly inipessed line, running forward, but becoming effaced before it reaches the 

 centre. On the under side is also a callous-like elevation, similar in all respects to 

 that on the upper side, except that in place of the impressed lines it has in its middle 

 a single channel or furrow, which does not e.xtend to the posterior nor quite to the 

 anterior margin. The fourth segment is a third narrower than the preceding, and 

 has an impressed transverse line in its middle. In the deeply impressed suture 

 which divi'les this from the third segment, on each side, is a smooth, crescent shaped, 

 elevated spot of a chestnut brown color, resembling a little tick adhering in the fold 

 of the sUin. The nine remaining segments are of neaily equal length and diameter, 

 except the two last^ which are successively narrower. They are separated from 

 each other by sutures which are strongly constricted. Along the middle of the back 



