IX 



PESTS 



157 



family of friends may be saved from the general 

 massacre. 



A bee-like looking insect (Syrphus) also subsists in 

 the grub state upon aphides. This creature is very apt 

 to be summarily squashed as an enemy instead of being 

 protected as a friend. It may be known by its shape, 

 which is something like that of a leech, being widest at 

 the tail and tapering gradually to almost a point at the 

 head. It is blind, and resting on its hind parts sways 

 about the head and neck groping for aphides and when 

 it finds one holds it up in the air and devours it leaving 

 the skin behind. I have often seen and pointed out 

 this larva to friends, that it may be recognised by its 

 shape and escape destruction, for in size and colour- — 

 green with a light central stripe — it is much like one of 

 the common caterpillars ; but I would not advise that 

 too much reliance be placed on the efforts of our blind 

 ally, for aphides can only be kept completely under by 

 sharp eyes and fingers industriously and constantly 

 used. 



A very beautiful lace-wing fly (Chrysopa, i.e. golden - 

 eyed) also lays its eggs on a strange bunch of stalks 

 among aphides, and the larvae when hatched despatch 

 them very quickly. 



It will be seen, however, that all these insects 

 naturally require the aphides to be present before the 

 female will lay the eggs which are to produce the larvae 

 to destroy them. We want to exterminate the aphis, 

 and this is necessarily not the object of the aphis-eaters 

 for in that case their food and occupation would be 

 gone. 



It is said that the Government of China pays a 

 handsome salary to the court physician while the 

 emperor is well, stops his pay when he is ill, and chops 



