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CHAPTER XXVIII. 



OF INSECTS, &c. 



Of the different Sorts of Insects infesting Fruit-Trees., and the 

 Method of Destroying them..., How to Preserve Fruit fron\ 

 Birds ; and Destroying Rats and Mice. 



OF THE APHIS*, 



Aphides, or piant-L ice, are a very numerous and de= 



structive tribe ot insects. Entomologists enumerate 75 species 

 of them ; but probably there are many more, as every tree in- 

 fested by them has a distinct species ; and Linnaeus names 

 them from the different trees that they live upon ; as the Cur- 

 rant Aphis, the Plum Aphis, the Cherry Aphis, &c. The males, 

 which are very few in comparison of the females, have wings ; 

 but the females are apterous, or without v/ings. 



Aphides are devoured by the larva of the Myrmeleon 

 Formicarius, or ant-eater, of Linnaeus. Ants are likewise 

 very fond of them, on account of a sweet liquor which they 

 eject from the anus. Aphides are extremely common. 



Fruit-trees are frequently very much infested with differ- 

 ent species of the aphis ; the plum, in particular, suffers great- 

 ly by them. Those which I have most frequently found on 

 plums are, the brown, the green, and the light sea-green 

 aphis ; but, as before observed, different sorts of trees gene- 

 rally have different species of aphides. Great care should be 

 taken to destroy these pernicious insects at as early a period 

 of their growth as possible ; otherwise they will consume the 

 leaves and fruit for that season. The best method that I have 

 found for this purpose is, to take some fine wood-ashes mixed 

 with one-third part of fine unslaked lime, and throw it on with 

 a common dredging-box, till you have covered the undersides 

 of all the leaves where you find the insects : This should be 



* Those who wish for farther information respecting insects, may con= 

 suit Reaumur's History of Insects, 



