. Bug vs. bug: nature's method of controlling injurious species. Insects; Beneficial insects; Insect pests. /.1 26 CAMPORNIA STATE HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. They are usually very conspicuous from size/color, and markings, and very many of them resemble other insects and may be mistaken for bees, wasps, etc. They are often seen in sunny weather poising almost motionless on the wing, especially over flower-beds, occasionally darting on their prey. The larva of the syrphus flies is of great benefit in destroying all kinds of aphids. It is quite blind, but the egg from which it hatches is deposite
. Bug vs. bug: nature's method of controlling injurious species. Insects; Beneficial insects; Insect pests. /.1 26 CAMPORNIA STATE HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. They are usually very conspicuous from size/color, and markings, and very many of them resemble other insects and may be mistaken for bees, wasps, etc. They are often seen in sunny weather poising almost motionless on the wing, especially over flower-beds, occasionally darting on their prey. The larva of the syrphus flies is of great benefit in destroying all kinds of aphids. It is quite blind, but the egg from which it hatches is deposited by the parent fly in the midst of a colony of plant aphids, where it gropes about and obtains an abundance of food without much trouble. The larva is fleshy, thick and blunt behind, and pointed in front. Its mouth is furnished with a triple-pointed dart, with which it seizes and pierces its prey, and, elevating it as shown in the figure, deliberately sucks it dry. MAGNIFIED NAToRALSIZE MAGNIFIED , NATURALSIZE. FIC 1(1. FIG. 17. Larva of Syrphus Fly. Pupa of Syrphns Fly. This is but a partial list of the very many insect friends which are doing so much for California horticulture, and which it has been the policy of the State Board of Horticulture and the State Horticultural Commissioner to foster and encourage to the widest extent, and at the same time to add to their numbers all beneficial insects which can be secured from any part of the world. To this end correspondence is car- ried on with entomologists in different parts of the world, while agents of this department are dispatched to discover and introduce beneficial species wherever they can be found. It is the policy of this State to use artificial remedies so long as there are no better ones, but to secure, introduce, and distribute the better means, and these consist of beneficial insects, as soon as possible. In California, at least, this plan has been found a very effective and profitable one, for of all the many i
Size: 3373px × 741px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1906
