THE APHIDES OF GUERNSEY. 87 



animal life may here find some place, and that reflex action 

 may explain the fact, that under the microscope, the mutilated 

 parts, without stomach or without internal organs, have been 

 seen to walk away and live after the operation for a consider- 

 able time." The larv^ of many of the bright banded hovering 

 flies (Syrphidje) feed also exclusively on Aphides. Several 

 species belonging to the order Neuroptera, notably the larva? 

 of the lace-wing flies, Chrysopa, are wonderfully voracious and 

 feed principally but not exclusively on Aphides ; when this 

 food fails they will attack and devour each other. They 

 have the singular habit of decking themselves with the skins 

 of their victims, piling them on their backs like trophies, 

 which almost wholly conceal them. Notwithstanding this 

 encumbrance the insect moves with much activity among the 

 Aphis swarms, and the grey mass might well be taken for a 

 piece of lichen. 



In compiling the list of Guernsey species I have derived 

 great assistance from Mr. G. B. Buckton's splendid " Mono- 

 graph of the British Aphides " published by the Kay Society 

 in 4 volumes, 1876-83. Mr. Buckton kindly named several 

 of my specimens in 1899, one of which Cledohius populcus is 

 not well known in England, but found on the Continent. 



In addition to those named on the list I have observed 

 a number of other s]3ecies, but as I have not been able to name 

 them satisfactorily I have left them for a future occasion. 



APHIDIDiE. 



APHIDIN^. 



SiphODOphora rosse, Reaumur. Abundant on roses in gardens. 



S. granapia, Kirhy. Common on flower heads of various grasses. It also 

 attacks the wheat and oat crops. 



S. pisi, Kalt. Very common in some seasons on the pea plants in gardens 

 and fields and is very destructive. It feeds also on a variety of other 

 plants. 



S. laetuese, Kolt. I have taken it on garden lettuce ; it may be found on 



Sonchus, Crepis, and other plants. 



S. PUbi, Kalt. Under the leaves of the bramble in May. 



S. UPtiese, Kalt. Abundant on the common stinging nettle flfrtica dioicaj 

 in May and June at the Hubit Lanes, Moulin Huet Bay, &c. 



S. eonvolvuli, Kalt. On Convolvulus Major at St. Peter-in-the Wood. June. 



S. SOnehi, Linn. Found on Black Knapweed fCentaurea mgraj in July at 

 Fermain Bay by Mr. E. D. Marquand. 



S. Olivata, BucMon. On the stalks of the thistle, Cardius lanceolatus at Petit 

 Port in August. 



PhOPOdon humuli, ^chranJc. Common on the sloe, Prunus spinosa, in the 

 spring. This is the species that in some seasons does so much damage to 

 the hop crop. 



