THE DAGGER MOTH — THE CELERY FLY. 317 



ognized as moths, and look more like little flies. They are all 

 very beautiful, and many of the species are truly magnificent 

 when seen through a microscope, their plumage glittering as if 

 made of burnished gold and silver. Indeed, one genus in which 

 these leaf-miners are comprised is named Argyromiges, a title 

 based on a Greek word signifying silver. 



The species which is most common in the leaves of the rose- 

 tree is the Eed-headed Pigmy {Microsetia ruficapitella). The 

 larva of this insect seems not to possess even the rudiments of 

 legs, and forces itself through the leaves by means of certain pro- 

 jections of the skin, which are sharp and angular, and serve as 

 instruments of progression, like the abdominal scales of the ser- 

 pent and the bristles of the earth-worm. A species which is 

 found, in the leaf of the oak is known to collectors by the name 

 of Cramer's Pigmy {Argyromiges Cramerella). The caterpillars 

 of the Dagger Moth {Diumea) also live between the membranes 

 of leaves, and are remarkable for the last pair of feet, which are 

 shaped like a couple of very minute battledores. These feet are 

 spread out greatly in the act of walking, and the creature is far- 

 ther aided in its progress by the haij-covered warts upon the body. 



As for the beetle leaf-miners, they are to be found among the 

 weevils ; and it is a remarkable fact that one of these insects be- 

 longs to the genus Clonus, which has already been mentioned on 

 page 297 as the weaver of certain beautiful pensile cocoons. 



Of the Diptera, the Celery Fly {Tephritis onopordinis) is a 

 good example. The larva of this really pretty fly, with its green 

 eyes and black and white spotted wings, feeds not only on the 

 celery, but on the parsnip, and does great harm to both plants. 

 Gardeners often employ little boys to examine the celery plants, 

 and whenever they find a "blister," as they technically call it, to 

 crush the inclosed maggot' between the fingers. The color of 

 this larva is pale green, so that it is not readily seen even when 

 the blister is opened. If allowed to have its own way, the larva 

 remains in the bag until it has finished its eating, and then de- 

 scends into the ground, where it changes into the pupal state, and 

 remains until the following spring. In such a case the leaves 

 are often much damaged, the blisters being yellowish-white, and 

 the leaf itself drooping and half withered. 



Our last examples of pensile nests are taken from the Arach- 

 nidse, being formed by several species of spiders. 



