194 



IKJUEIOUS II^^SECTS 



the ground. In this way orchards have suffered severely 

 in consequence of the injurious punctures of these insects. 

 Sometimes, however^ the twigs of the A^ople and other 

 fruit trees recover from these attacks and new wood 

 forms over the wounds as shown in figure 120. 



The eggs (fig. 118^ e) are one-twelfth of an inch long, and 

 one-tenth of an inch through the middle, but taper at 

 each end to an obtuse point, and are of a pearl-white 

 color. The shell is so thin and delicate that the form of 

 the included insect can be seen before the egg is hatched. 

 The young insect when it bursts the shell is one-sixteenth 

 of an inch long, and is of a yellowish-white color, except 

 the eyes and the claws of the fore legs, which are reddish; 

 and it is covered with little hairs. In form it is some- 



ster claws, and armed with strong spines beneath, On 

 the shoulders are little prominences in the place of wings; 

 and under the breast is a long beak for suction. Fig. 121 

 shows the larva enlarged. These little creatures when 

 liberated from the shell are very lively, and their move- 

 ments are nearly as quick as those of ants. After a few 

 movements their instincts prompt them to get to the 

 ground, but in order to reach it they do not descend 

 the body of the tree, neither do they cast off them- 

 selves precipitately; but, running to the side of the limbs 

 they deliberately loosen their hold, and fall to the earth. 



On reaching the ground the insects immediately bury 

 themselves in the soil, burrowing by means of their 

 broad and strong fore feet, which, like those of the mole, 

 are admirably adapted for digging. In their descent into 



Fig. 121.— LAEVA, MUCH ENLAEGED. 



what grub-like, being 

 longer in proportion 

 than the parent insect, 

 and is furnished with 

 six legs, the first pair 

 of which are very large, 

 shaped almost l^ke lob- 



