162 
HALF HOURS WITH INSECTS. 
[Packard. 
the bark, nor any other apparent cause, and if it be a young 
tree, it may be found on removing the soil from the roots 
that a number of gall-like excrescences, sometimes a couple 
of inches in diameter, are attached to them. On opening 
the galls a number of small wingless plant lice, with larger 
winged ones, will be observed in the crevices. Their bodies 
are covered with a woolly exudation, whence their common 
name, “woolly blight.” Dr. Fitch, who has given us the 
best account of this annoying blight insect, says that the 
parent insect at the end of autumn works her way down 
along the side of the root, there depositing her stock of 
eggs, and then, the grand aim of her life accomplished, she 
dies. When the ground becomes warm in spring the young 
appear and forthwith plunge their beaks into the bark. The 
beak thus inserted acts like a seton in the flesh of an ani¬ 
mal, and keeps up a constant irritation. An abnormal 
cell-growth sets in, bringing about a permanent enlargement, 
which undermines the health of the tree. It is especially 
injurious in nurseries of young trees. 
Dr. Fitch wisely recommends that when the tree is found 
to be infested, it should not be thrown away, but the roots 
should be dipped in soap suds, and when replanted a shovel¬ 
ful of ashes should be mixed with the dirt. This insect is 
a near ally of the famous Phylloxera of the vine. 
Another insect not usually suspected of injuring the apple 
by sucking the sap of the 
roots is the young of the Ci¬ 
cada (Fig. 128, enlarged), 
which lives for sixteen years 
sucking the roots usually of 
the- oak, but is sometimes 
liable to attack the roots of 
the apple. It may be imagined that sixteen years’ drainage 
of the sap of the tree is a pretty serious matter. The 
young insect lives a foot or two beneath the surface of the 
2 
Fig. 128. 
Young Cicada. 
