A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

PS Y 487 PT E
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of flowers. They are called either
nymphs or larvie in this state (accord-
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birth, they cast their first skin, after
which they appeared nearly of their
ing to the extent of their develop- former shape and colour. The second
ment); and, like their parents, have changing of the skin can sometimes be
their mouth in the breast. After a few scarcely seen at all, because the larva
days, they change their skins, and be- not only puts out a thicker string with
come darker, and somewhat reddish on the tubercle, but also an immense numthe
breast, and rather resemble bugs ber of very fine entangled threads or
than plant-lice, having the extreme small hairs, which it turns upwards
point of the Ixody somewhat broad, and over its back, and with them entirely
beset with bristles. After changing covers its body and head. In sunshine,
their skins, they leave the leaves, bios- these strings look transparent, as if
soms, and fruit, and proceed more they were made of glass, and become
downwards to the bearing wood and of a greenish variable colour. Under
the shoots of last year, on which they this screen the chermes are secured
fix themselves securely, one after the from every attack of other insects ; for
other, in rows, and remain there till no ants, mites, or bugs can disturb
their last transformation.
" When the nymphs have moulted
them in their fortification, or consume
them as their prey. After changing
for the last time, and have attained their
full size, the body swells out by de
the second skin, the young assumed a
different colour and form ; tliev now
grees, and becomes cylindrical. They became light green all over, the abdothen
leate their associates, and before men was much broader than the thorax,
they lay aside their nymph-like cover- and on the side of the latter, rudiments
ing, they search out a leaf to which of the wings were distinctly seen. The
they fasten themselves firmly, and ap
pear as if thev were lifeless. After a
few minutes the skin splits on the upper
part of the covering, and a winged insect
proceeds from it. It is of a pleasant
green colour, with red eyes, and
snow-while wings. It very much resembles
its parents in spring, even in
the colour. After a few days, this
chermes has assumed the colours of
the perfect insect ; the head, collar, and
thorax, are of an orange colour, and
only the abdomen retains its green hue.
It now Hies away from the place of its
birth, to enjoy the open air."
P. mali. Apple Chermes. For the
following I am also indebted to the too
much neglected work of JNI. Kollar :
—
" It usually appears in June. In
September, the apple chermes pair, and
third time of changing the skin comes
on in about eight days, sometimes
sooner and sometimes later, according
to the weather. After this skin the
wing rudiments very distinctly make
their appearance, and become larger
and whiter the nearer the insect approaches
to the perfect state. The
body is also of a light green, and the
larva; have black eyes, and blackish
antenna;. At last the time arrives when
the insect assumes the perfect state ;
when it retires to a part of a leaf which
it had selected, and after having firmly
fixed itself there, the back splits open,
and the beautiful winged chermes appears
from the nymph. The back of
the thorax is of a light green, the abdomen
is marked with yellow rings, and
the membranous wings with strongly
marked snow-white veins."
lay their eggs. They are white, and
pointed at both ends, a line and a halfl P. cratcrf^i infests the camellia. It
long, and the fourth of a line thick, is destroyed by syringing with tobacco
and become yellow before the young
escapes. The apple chermes lays its
water, or diluted gas ammoniacal liquor,
until the insects are dead, and then
eggs in different places of the twigs of syringing with water only.
an apple-tree ; usually, however, in the P. ficus and P. ros«, are respectively
furrows of the knots, and sometimes in
a very regular manner. The larva;
on the fig and rose trees.
PTELEA trifoliata. Hardy decidu-
were scarcely escaped from the egg, in
the open air, when they hastened to
ous shrub. Layers. Light rich loam.
PTELIDIUM ovntum. Stove ever-
the nearest bud, and began to gnaw its green shrub. Ripe cuttings. Sandy
scales, because the bud was only some- loam and peat.
what swollen, and had not begun to PTEIIIS. Forty-six species. Stove,
and hardy and herbaceous
sprout. On the second day after their ) green-house,