117 



Genus XLIT. THRIPS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER 



Antenna filiform, as long as the thorax. jRo- 

 strum indistinct. Body slender, linear. Ab- 

 domen curved upwards. Wings four, straight, 

 lying on the back, narrow, arid slightly 

 crossed. 



General Observations. 



The insects of this genus are so diminutive 

 as almost to escape notice. They live in flow- 

 ers, and under the bark of trees. In the same 

 places we meet with the larvae, which differ 

 only in the want of wings from the perfect 

 insect. The most common of the tribe, the 

 T. Physapus, is a very small, black insect, fre- 

 quently seen in the spring and summer running 

 upon the petals of different flowers, or skipping 

 from place to place, and bending back its body 

 as it goes. 



It is said to be very hurtful to grain. 



