INSECTS INJURIOUS IN THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 



831 



them. Besides these there are a number of para- 

 sitic insects which deposit their eggs in the old 

 aphides, and whose young feed upon, and, when 

 fully grown, issue from them, leaving nothing 

 of the body of the aphis but a dry empty 

 skin. The earwig and ant play their part, and 

 a number of soft-billed birds are extremely use- 

 ful in spring, by devouring the young newly- 

 hatched aphides as they issue from the eggs 

 laid the previous autumn. Amongst birds that 

 are our assistants in this matter, the green and 

 red woodpeckers, the nut-hatch, the tree-creeper, 

 the greenfinch, starling, chaffinch, house-sparrow, 

 ox-eye, tomtit, goldfinch, wagtail, redstart, red- 

 breast, may all be considered as insectivorous ; 

 and although some of them do take a little fruit, 

 still this loss is as nothing compared to the im- 

 mense service they render us in the suppression 

 of our insect enemies. 



Destruction of the aphides is effected in various 

 ways ; but whatever mode is adopted, it will be 

 of little use if not done effectually, and followed 

 up as long as a single aphis is seen on the 

 plants. A decoction of quassia, in the propor- 

 tion of an ounce of the chips to a quart of 

 water, is an excellent remedy, and where the 

 number of plants infested is not great, the 

 branches may be dipped into it ; but when the 

 collection is extensive, a more wholesale mode 

 of proceeding must be adopted ; and this can- 

 not be better done than by preparing 2 or 3 

 gallons at a time, and when cold, applying it to 

 the plants by means of the garden-engine or 

 syringe, wetting both upper and under sides of 

 the foliage, so as to reach the aphides upon 

 whatever part of the leaves or shoots they have 

 taken up their abode. This application should 

 be repeated the following day, when few of the 

 insects will be found alive. For greater security, 

 the whole should be syringed with clear water, 

 applied with force, in a day or two afterwards, 

 for the removal of the dead insects and refresh- 

 ment of the plants. Another remedy we have 

 found of great service in the destruction of 

 aphides on all kinds of plants, is two pounds of 

 bitter aloes dissolved in hot water, and added 

 to 40 gallons of soft river or rain water, and ap- 

 plied in a cool state by the above means. A 

 pint of gas- water added to 10 pints of soft pump- 

 water is a cheap and useful remedy for destroy- 

 ing aphides on rose-trees. Covering the plants 

 so as to enclose the smoke, and fumigating with 

 tobacco, is a very effectual remedy ; as is also 

 wetting the buds and points of the shoots in- 

 fested, and immediately dusting Scotch snuff 

 over them. In their very young state, finely- 

 powdered hot lime dusted over them, and re- 

 peated two or three times, will destroy those 

 which have just changed their outer skin, or 

 such as have it yet in a soft state. 



Lozotamia rosana lays its eggs in summer 

 and autumn ; they hatch along with the open- 

 ing of the leaves in spring, and often do much 

 injury to the rose. The young caterpillar forms 

 a residence for itself by drawing two or more 

 of the young leaves together, on which it 

 feeds. When this is observed, they should 

 be looked to, and bruised between the finger 

 and thumb. 



The common vapourer, or brown tussock moth 

 Bombyx (Orgyia) antiqua, fig. 278. — They feed 



Fig. 278. 



BROWN TUSSOCK MOTH. 



on a variety of trees, but principally on the rose 

 and willow. The females are destitute of wings, 

 seldom travelling many inches from the web 

 which they form for a temporary protection, 

 and in which, and on the branch which supports 

 it, they have deposited their eggs ; after which 

 they fall to the ground and die. The males 

 being furnished with wings, may be seen from 

 August till October flying about in search of 

 their mates. They are of a rich snuff-colour, 

 the antennre short, and bipectinated to the tips ; 

 the head and thorax are downy, the upper wings 

 forming a triangle, when at rest, of a clouded 

 brownish colour, having two dark irregular 

 lines across them, and a largish uniform white 

 spot near each posterior angle : the under wings, 

 as well as the whole under side, are of a dark 

 rusty orange colour, the legs ochreous and hairy, 

 the body slender. The females are of a mouse 

 colour, clothed with soft short thick down, 

 oval in shape, and sluggish in habits : head 

 small, with prominent eyes : antennas short, and 

 composed of about twenty joints : thorax small, 

 not winged, but having a pair of small hairy 

 appendages : the abdomen is distended with 

 eggs, which are visible through the skin. The 

 caterpillar is of the sort vulgarly known as 

 hairy-worms. They are of a beautiful lead or 

 light slate colour, richly marked with black 

 velvety spots and red tubercles round the seg- 

 ments of the body. Two long elegant brushes 

 of blackish hairs project like horns on each 

 side of the head, another is elevated at the tail, 

 and three others on each side of the body, giv- 

 ing the animal, when in a state of repose, a very 

 singular and elegant appearance. They have 

 six pectoral horny -like feet, terminated with 

 claws, eight abdominal, and ten anal fleshy 



