1877. ] 
THE AUEICULA DISEASE. 
135 
sidered it a joint. Walker, who seems to describe from a slide mounted in 
Canada balsam, has probably overlooked it. Besides this, the proportions of the 
other joints of the antennae of this species correspond with none of those that 
have been hitherto described. The annexed figure will show what they are in 
this species. None of Koch’s figures are sufficiently enlarged to allow us to 
trust absolutely to them (if we did, they would indicate a still wider difference). 
We therefore propose to describe this as a new species, under the name of Trama 
auriculce. Four species of Trama have been described :— 
1. Trama radicis^ of Kalenbachand 'K.qq\i{T. troglodytes of Heyden’s Synopsis, 
without description), which has been found on the roots of Orepis biennis. 
2. Trama jiavescens of Koch, found on the upper roots of Artemisia vulgaris. 
3. Trama pubescens of Koch, found on the roots of the common Yarrow. 
4. Trama helianthemi (Rhizohus helianthemi of Westwood), found on the roots 
of the Jerusalem Artichoke. 
Trama auriculce. —Same characters as Trama radicis, with the following 
differences. The colour of the body greenish white, and in some individuals 
bearing a woolly excrescence behind, the legs and antennee darker. Taking the 
antennae as seven-jointed, the first joint is a tubercule not usually visible; the 
second is shorter and thicker than any of the rest; the third is about a half 
longer than the second, and is thinner than it; the fourth is about the same 
length as the third, but slightly thinner ; the fifth is rather more than half the 
length of the fourth, and is perhaps a trifle thicker ; the sixth is twice the length 
of the fifth ; and the seventh is a mere appendage, stuck on like a projection at 
one end of the sixth. Walker, in his description of l\ama radicis.^ gives the 
following as the proportions of the joints of the antennae:—First and second 
joints short, third very long, fourth and two following joints moderately long. 
Koch, in his description, says that the third and fifth joints are equal in length. 
AVestwood does not note the respective lengths of the joints. 
One of the most remarkable things about this insect’s appearance is that it 
seems to have been observed by Auricula-growers all at once in different parts of 
the country at the same time. The injury that it has done has in some cases 
been very disheartening; in others, it appears to have been more easily kept under. 
Mr. Llewelyn had been so successful in exterminating it in his plants, that he had 
to go to a less fortunate neighbour to obtain for me a plant that would show it 
in its characteristic state. In a note which I have since received from him, he 
gives the following additional information :— 
“ With respect to this aphis, I spent a most enjoyable day at the Crystal Palace Auricula 
Show on [April 24], and saw amongst others Mr. D’Ombrain ; he had brought with him a pot 
of affected Auricula, which he showed me. There was a good deal of woolly matter upon 
the roots, but no insect, and the woolly matter appeared to me to be stale, as though the aphis 
had been there and had gone. Several with whom I spoke were aware of the existence of 
such an insect, but made rather light of the mischief it does. Soft-soap and water, or tobacco- 
powder was said quickly to destroy it, but the attack should be treated at once, or mischief 
will be done. Mr. D’Ombrain seems to have suffered most severely, and he did not show at 
the Palace at all.” 
—Andrew Murray, in Gardeners' Chronicle. 
