72 
and introduce some cuts to illustrate their distinctive characte^ 
Notwithstanding these insects are so common, yet I find that there 
are many persons even among our farmers who appear to be una e 
to distinguish them by their common name of Plant-lice, hut it 
would seem to me that there is scarcely an indi vidual, old or young 
who has paid any attention to plants during the summer, that has 
not observed upon the leaves or stems, twigs or bark minute soft- 
bodied insects busily engaged in sucking the sap ^ith tiny beaks, 
usually without wings and generally huddled together m little group... 
On account of their somewhat strong resemblance to certain other un¬ 
pleasant insects sometimes found on the human head; “d the 'fiar- 
asitic habits thev have bv common consent received the \ei) appro 
“latVname of Plant-lice. ' There is scarcely a plant in the vegetable 
or flower garden, a bush or tree in the yard, orchard, nursei}, Mne 
yard, grove or forest but what, at some time, is infested by these m- 
S6 On account of their great similarity in appearance and habits as 
seen bv ordinary observation, it would be thought impossible to find 
sufficient distinction to separate them into different groups, except in 
the two divisions, the woolly and those not woolly, as often ctiaracver- 
ized by horticulturists. But this is so far from correct that I have 
concluded to introduce here a short description of the cnaracters by 
which the groups may be distinguished that our farmers may be able 
to distingufsh more closely between their minute nsect enemie. And 
Ido this now because through the liberality of our'State offic; 
have been enabled to prepare some engravings by which I can turnist 
onU to illustrate these differences. , . , , 
The term Plant-lice in its broadest sense has been used to embrace 
three different families of insects, belonging to the sub-order Homop 
tera. This has been done on account of their similarity in severa 
respects, such as the following: 
1st In having the mouth formed for sucking, by being prolongec 
into a slender, horny, jointed tube, which arises far back under tb 
breast, apparantly between the front legs. ,, v n< 
2d In not undergoing a complete transformation as do beetles, but 
terflies, elc ; the lfrva and pupa, or in other words the young, bem. 
similar in form to the perfect insect, t 
3d. In having but two joints in the tarsi or ieet. 
4th. In having the antennae longer than the head and composed ( 
filiform or cylindrical joints. . , r_,, 
5th. In the fact that the winged individuals always have fo 
6th. In the fact that all live upon the juices of plants. 
7th. In their small size, no species of our country f xceec “"g 
fourth of an inch in length of body, while many fall considerab . 
short of one-tenth of an inch. 
Although agreeing in these respects the species belonging to tt 
three families alluded to—which are named respectively, j>!/ f 
Aphidm and Aleurodidx —may be readily distinguished from each otto 
bv the following brief characters. The AUurodidx look almost exac 
lv like very minute moths, the wings being noac an s ap ^ 
those of a little moth and more or less powdered or mealy, bic 
