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Rhizobiinae
A group of Aphides, which derive their name (meaning "root-livers") from living underground upon roots of various plants. In this group all the species exhibit this habit; but also do various genera outside the Rhizobiinae, strictly so-called, e.g., most species of Paracletus, Schizoneura, and Trama, and a few species of the genera. Aphis, Phylloxera, Pemphigus, and Siphonophora. In all the above genera there are species more or less hurtful to garden plants, by feeding on their roots, and thereby weakening them; and several of the species have been referred to the genus Rhizobius because of their mode of life--e.g., Trama radices, described by Westwood, under the name Rhizobius Helianthemi. A very large part of the root-feeding Aphides select roots of grasses; but they also feed largely on Lettuces (Pemphigus), Jerusalem Artichokes, French Beans, and Scarlet Runners (Tychea Phaseoli, &c.). A curious circumstance connected with these insects is the relation that exists between them and certain species of ants, in whose nests they usually remain; in the nests they are carefully attended to by the ants. In the genus Rhizobious no winged forms are known, nor do honey-tubes exist. Owing to their mode of life, it is difficult to free plants when once attacked by these subterranean Aphides. Probably, the best means is to water them with a solution of gas-water or gas-lime, or of carbolic acid; or to make use of carbon disulphide, poured into holes in the soil near the roots.