Beneficial Insects. 



331 



autumn. It may be that the female then deposits eggs 

 upon trees, shrubs, and plants, which are hatched in the 

 early spring. 



Another larger species of the SyrphidcEy defined as Cata- 

 bomba pyrastri^ is shown in the illustration, No. 4 ; the habits 

 of this are identical with those of Syrphus rihesii. 



These insects should be protected in every possible way, 

 and their great services to cultivators fully understood 

 and recognised. It is held by no means infrequently 

 that they are injurious to crops, and the Board some- 

 times receive specimens of the larvse found upon turnips 

 and other leaves with a request for information as to the 

 " new insect pest/* In many instances hop-growers are not 

 alive to the usefulness of the larvae of the Syrphi in reducing 

 the number of the aphides upon the hop-plants, though in 

 this case but little reliance is placed upon the efforts ot 

 insects such as the Coccmellir, the Syrphi, and Lacewing 

 flies {Chrysop(B)y as the plants are systematically and fre- 

 quently sprayed with various insecticides and insectifugeKS 

 which clear away foes and friends alike. If the balance of 

 nature were allowed to adjust itself, wholesale attacks ot 

 insects such as now affect various crops would probably not 

 occur, but it is altogether interfered with by artificial systems, 

 the destruction of insectivorous birds, and the want of 

 recognition and encouragement of insectivorous insects. 



The Lacewing Fly [Chrysopa vulgaris). 



The larvae of this fly are also great destroyers of aphides, 

 and may be found upon all kinds of trees and plants where 

 these pests occur. There are several species of this genus of 

 insects, Chrysopince, of the order Neuroptera, in this country.' 

 The chief species is known as Chrysopa vulgaris ^ a 

 very pretty delicate fly with long wings looking like 

 fine gauze. When at rest the wings are folded upwards over 

 the back. Its body is pale green, and it has very prominent 

 large eyes of the colour of shining gold, so that it is often 

 termed "golden eyes." In length it is nearly half an inch, 

 with four wings arid six short legs. This fly has a most dis- 



