Aphis, the Plant Louse, Puceron, or Nine fretter. This insect, so destructive from its multitude, attacks fruit trees, juicy kitchen vegetables, and other plants, weakening and rendering them incapable of development by sucking from them their juices. The exhaustion thus occasioned is sometimes so complete as to destroy the plant. Each vegetable subject to its ravages has its peculiar species.

Aphis pyri mali is of a grass green colour, attacking the apple and pear.

Aphis persicae is dark green, and is peculiar to the peach and nectarine.

Aphis pruni ravages the plum tribes, and is a very light green.

Aphis rosae. Light green, found upon the rose genus.

Aphis fabae,known popularly as the Black Dolphin and Elephant, is black, and attacks the common bean.

The tops of beans attacked by the Black Dolphin should be forthwith removed; and smaller plants may be syringed with tobacco-water, or water in which elder leaves have been boiled; which applications are all fatal to the aphis.

Aphispisi is green, and affects the pea.

Aphis lonicera, Woodbine louse. Dingy green.

Aphis cerasi, Morello cherry louse. Appears black. Infests the under sides of the leaves, especially on wet soils.

Aphis coryli, Nut louse. Pale green.

Aphis Dahlia, Dahlia louse. Amber coloured.

Aphis ribis, Red currant louse. Blackish.

Aphis ligustri, Privet louse. Dark brown.

Aphis ribis-nigri, Black currant louse. Transparent green.

Aphis lathyri, Sweet pea louse. Dark purple.

Aphis (Cinara) raphani, Radish louse. Females, green; males, lightish red.

The aphides on the peach appear the earliest, being, as are all the others, the produce of eggs deposited during the previous autumn. During the spring and summer they are viviparous, and breed with extraordinary rapidity. The gardener does well, therefore, to scrub the branches of his wall trees, and to boil or change the shreds every winter, for he thus destroys the pest in embryo. So soon as they appear in spring, over each wall tree a mat should be fastened, and tobacco burnt beneath it. Peas, whilst the dew is upon them, may be dusted with Scotch snuff. Over the apple, plum, and other standards, the only available remedy is a repeated application of quicklime, at the same early period of the day, by the means of Curtis' Lime Duster. Most of these insects are readily destroyed by an application of diluted whale oil soap; it is probable a solution of common soft soap would be equally effective. The inexperienced operator should be careful lest he apply it in too powerful a state.

The larvae of the Coccinella or Ladybird, especially C.punctata, the Syrphus or bee-like fly, the Hemerobius or golden-eyed fly, the ant, some caterpillars, and many of the lchneumonidae, are great destroyers of the Aphis, and should be encouraged rather than removed. See American Blight.