51 



the year round, giving rise to large numbers of young, and it is these 

 that give rise to the woolly festoons often seen on apple trees. 



The winged females are seen from July to September, being 

 chocolate-brown in colour, but they are not to be seen in aU places. 

 The wingless males and egg-laying females are to be seen towards 

 the end of the year, and have no piercing proboscis. The female is 

 of a reddish-yeUow colour, hardly ever longer than -003 of an inch, 

 laying one egg and then dying. 



The larvae from these eggs develop into wingless, viviparous females. 

 Certain authorities believe that there is active migration from roots 

 to trunk and from trunk to roots. 



Enemies. — ^The lady-birds and their larvas eat great quantities 

 of them, as does the blue tit, a very useful bird. The small dip- 

 terous larvae of the genus Pipiza feed on the aphides that attack 

 the roots. 



If the pest is very bad a summer wash can be applied, using : — 

 Paraffin . . . . .2 gallons. 

 Soft soap . . . . ilh. 



Water . . . . .1 gallon. 



Boil the water and soap together well, and while stiU hot pour 

 in the paraffin and chum as thoroughly as possible until a creamy 

 butter-Uke mass results, and dilute with ten gallons of water for use. 



It can be sprayed on in the summer, or a strong paint-brush can 

 be used and work thoroughly with the bristles into the cracks containing 

 the aphis. 



For the root louse, inject carbon bisulphide into the soil from 

 October to March, preferably the former month. 



A moderate-sized tree needs about one fluid ounce, half of which 

 should be placed about 6 inches in the soil on either side of the trunk 

 and about 2 feet away from it. 



Do not make the hole too near a root, as the hquid is detrimental 

 to roots though the fumes do no harm to them. Close the hole 

 made tightly with clay to prevent any fumes escaping, and these 

 fumes will penetrate the soil, killing all the aphides they get near. 

 2. Aphides. Order Rhynchota. 



There are three distinct kinds attacking the apple tree :— 



(a) The apple-leaf aphis. Aphis fitchii. 



(6) The permanent apple aphis, Aphis pomi, and 



(c) The rosy apple aphis. Aphis sorbi. 



(a) Aphis fitchii does not cause the leaves to ciu-1. 



The eggs hatch out about the middle of April, and commence 

 attacking both leaf and blossom buds, the latter becoming brown 

 and finally dying. 



In about a fortnight the young reach maturity, and early m June 

 they commence to migrate to various grasses, returning about the 

 middle of September to the apple, on which they deposit their eggs in 

 the axils of the buds. 



