OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 71 
nipse state in October, and become perfect flies the following May. The larvse are small, white, 
I md are very common on the under sides of the leaves. 
Hylotoma roses. — This Saw-fly lays its eggs in the young buds, and is double brooded. The 
irst brood of flies appear in the middle of April ; the eggs are laid on the branches and at the 
jase of the buds ; when hatched the caterpillars eat and do much mischief before the young 
tranches expand ; as the shoots develop themselves the greater part of the buds are destroyed, 
and many of the leaves also. The caterpillars are brown with a black head, and when full grown 
ire about half an inch long. They become pupae in June, and the flies appear in August ; the 
Second brood of larvse go into the pupse state in October, and become flies the following April. 
Emphytus fasciatus , or red-bodied Saw-fly. — This little creature sometimes causes the plants 
to droop and die, without any apparent cause. The females lay their eggs early in June, on the 
park of the plants, which they perforate with their long ovipositors. These eggs hatch about the 
middle of the month, and the small grubs immediately begin to eat through the wood, until they 
peach the pith ; they then proceed downwards, eating the pith, until they are full fed, which takes 
place early in September ; they then leave their places of concealment, and form small brown 
I socoons, which become perfect flies the following May. 
Emphytus nigricans. — This fly attacks the Rose trees much in the same manner as the last, 
and causes similar injuries ; the species is smaller than fasciatus , and is without the red ring on 
[the body. 
Lyda hortulana. — The larvae of this species not only live upon the leaves, but also cut large 
pieces out ; and each makes itself a case by fastening the pieces round its body in a spiral form, 
jj The third, are Solitary Bees, which are much less injurious than the last ; one sort merely 
disfigures by cutting off the leaves for the formation of their nests, and the other perforates the 
stem for the same purpose. The leaf-cutter is called Megachile centuncularis , or Upholsterer 
Bee ; the females alone, which cut the leaves, form nests for their young. The other is 
Megacliile ligniseca, or Carpenter Bee, somewhat smaller than the last, but with habits very 
similar. 
! The fourth kind, which may be mentioned, are Beetles, which attack every part of the plants, 
from the roots upwards. One of the handsomest and most destructive is Cetonia aurata, Rose- 
chafer, or Brass Beetle. In fine weather, during May and June, these beautiful insects may be 
found in abundance about the Rose bushes, either reposing in the hearts of the flowers, or flying 
round, and making a considerable humming noise. The females burrow into the light soft ground 
near the roots of the plants, and there deposit their eggs, from the middle to the end of June. 
The grubs when hatched are not unlike those of the common Cock-cliafer, Melolontha vulgaris , 
either in size or colour, but may be distinguished by being thinly covered with hair, which those of 
the Cock-chafer are not. They immediately commence feeding on the roots of any plants in their 
vicinity, and as they continue in the larvse state two years, it is surprising what an amount of 
damage is done by them. Their cocoons are composed of earth, pieces of rotten wood, leaves, and 
any other similar substance within reach, which they fasten together with a glutinous secretion. 
In the beetle state they chiefly confine themselves to the blossoms, very dexterously cutting out 
both petals and stamens, probably for the purpose of obtaining honey. The other is a much 
smaller species, called Cetonia stictica, or white-spotted Rose-chafer ; both in colour and habits 
this resembles the last, but it is much less common, and therefore not so injurious. 
The fifth kind are Moths, which of all depredators are most to be feared. Some devour the 
leaves, others the buds, and others the petals ; whilst some of the more minute kinds merely 
disfigure by running little serpentine lines under the cuticle of each leaf ; of this last are the — 
Microsetia ruficajpitella , or red-headed Pigmy Moth. The eggs of this little creature are laid on 
the under side of the leaves, in May and September ; and the first brood of caterpillars are 
hatched in the beginning of June ; they are then so small as to be scarcely visible to the naked 
eye. Each insect immediately eats into the parenchymatous substance of the leaf, every one 
forming a separate residence for itself, proceeding in a longitudinal direction, and carefully 
avoiding any injury to the outer skin of the leaf, which protects it safe from birds and the weather. 
About the middle of July they are full fed, being then about the sixth of an inch long, and of a 
dull yellow colour, with a brown head. When full grown they quit their residence in the leaves, 
and select amongst the spines secure places where they may undei’go their transformations ; 
