THE PEAR-TREE SLUG. 
529 
of “ The Gardener’s Magazine.” It is possible that our 
slug-fly may have been imported from Europe, and it may 
turn out to be really a mere variety of the European insect. 
Professor Peck was aware that it did not agree with the 
description given by Linnaeus of the latter; and it appears 
to me that the difference between the two insects, in their 
winded state, is enouo-h to entitle them to be considered as 
specifically distinct from each other. For this reason I shall 
retain for our insect the specific name adopted by Professor 
Peck, because this slug does really live upon the cherry, in 
this country, as well as on the pear-tree ; and shall merely 
j^refix to it the generical name which it should bear accord¬ 
ing to modern nomenclature. The fly of our slug-worm 
may therefore be called Selandria (^Blennocampa) Cerasi. 
The meaninor of the word Selandria is unknown to me. 
o 
Blennocampa signifies slimy caterpillar, a name which, it 
will be seen, may be applied 'with great propriety to our 
slucr-worm. 
o 
This slug-fly is of a glossy black color, except the first 
two pairs of legs, which are dirty yellow or clay-colored, 
with blackish thighs, and the hind legs, which are dull 
black, with clay-colored knees. The wings are somewhat 
convex and rumpled or uneven on the upper side, like the 
wings of the saw-flies generally. They are transparent, 
reflecting the changeable colors of the rainbow, and have 
a smoky tinge, forming a cloud or broad band across the 
middle of the first pair; the veins are ^ 
brownish. The body of the female (Fig. 
248) measures rather more than one fifth 
of an inch in length; that of the male is 
smaller. In the year 1828, I observed 
these saw-flies, on cherry and plum trees, in Milton, on 
the 10th of May; but they usually appear towards the end 
of May or early in June. Soon afterwards some of them 
begin to lay their eggs, and all of them finish this business 
and disappear within the space of three weeks. Their eggs 
G7 
