28 
the Farmers’ Review for September 2, 1880, says: ‘*There has been 
great complaint among our gardeners this season in reference to a 
plant-louse that is doing much injury to the nutmeg and muskmelon 
vines, and also to the cucumber vines. In some instances they have 
almost entirely destroyed the entire fields of vines.” 
Its NaTurAL History.—Very Young.—Length, .02 inch; greenish yellow; eyes, 
brown; tips of honey tubes brown; legs pale. 
Wingless Female.—Length, .04 inch; yellow; eyes dark brown; honey tubes 
slightly conical, black; cauda distinct, dark green; legs pale; extreme tips of tibiz 
and tarsi black. 
Winged Females.—Length, .05 inch, ovate; head and thorax shining black, some- 
times with the prothoracic segment green or yellowish; the antennz are dark and do 
not reach the honey tubes; abdomen dark-greenish yellow, spotted along sides; 
honey tubes black, thickest at base, gradually tapering to tip; cauda distinct, green- 
ish yellow or dark green; wings hyaline, with stigmaand veins pale yellowish ; legs 
pale, with tarsi and extreme tips of tibie and femora black. 
Its Injuries.—The viviparous female breeds very rapidly and is soon 
surrounded by young in various stages of growth. Ina brief time these 
reach maturity, wander off to new leaves and shoots, and begin colonies 
of their own. When these lice become too numerous they exhaust the 
vitality of the vine, distort the leaves and cause them to curl up and 
wither. The growing terminal shoots are also crowded with them, and 
then the vine can make no headway; it is fruitless and dies. 
It is one of the most destructive plant-lice. To illustrate its destrue- 
tiveness I cannot do better than quote from an article I wrote in Florida 
Dispatch, July 27, 1882, after investigating its injuries in Georgia: 
Some figures here in regard to the damage done by the ‘‘ Watermelon Aphis” will 
not be amiss, and will show our planters tbe necessity for prompt and united eftorts 
in its destruction. 
In Georgia the estimated yield of the watermelon crop this year (1882) for ship- 
ment was 900 car-loads, or 900,000 melons. Many at the beginning of the season 
bring $40 and $50 per hundred. However, to keep within a fair valuation and rather 
below the true amount, we will say they bring $25 per hundred, which equals, in 
round numbers, for the crop $225,000. Now, what has been the yield? The ship- 
ments are nearly over, and they have not yet reached 690 car-loads, a falling off of 
334 per cent., or a total loss of $75,000, due mainly to the ravages of an insect! 
The above statistics of loss are founded upon data of the estimate yield for but 
three counties, principally Thomas, Brooks, and Lowndes, in Georgia. In Florida 
the crop has from the same cause met with a loss still greater, and we are considera- 
bly below the estimate when we say the total loss to the planters of the two States 
is not less than $150,000. 
Natural Enemies and Parasites.—These have not been specially 
studied, but the enemies and parasites will be found to be similar to 
those of the ‘‘ Cabbage Aphis ”—flies belonging to the family Syrphi- 
die, the Lace-wings (Chrysopide), Chalcid flies (Chalcidide,) and Lady- 
birds (Coccinellidea.) 
Remedies.—An important help in their destruction, and to which the 
planters’ especial attention is requested, and which is equally applicable 
to other crops, is the following, which, if universally carried out, would 
a 
