EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 231 



SOME INSECTS OF THE YEAR 1901. 



BY RUFUS H. PETTIT. 



Bulletin 200 — Entomological Department. 

 INTRODUCTORY. 



The aim of the present bulletin is to give short accounts of such insects as have 

 attracted special attention during the summer of l'JOl, together with advice as to 

 remedial treatment. Many other insects have been present and have done injury but 

 such only were selected as had not recently been noticed in the bulletins of this office. 



Correspondence relating to injurious insects is desired, and all aid and advice in our 

 power will be at all times freely and gladly given upon application. The best means 

 we have of finding out the needs of the farmer is through the letters sent us asking for 

 advice in regard to specific insects. In writing for information, it is always best to send 

 one or more of the insects in question or some of their work. A piece of the insect itself 

 is usually more valuable than a lengthy description, and in sending specimens, the best 

 way is to enclose them in a tight tin box, with few if any air holes (insects require much 

 less air than we do). Together with the insects themselves it is well to enclose some 

 bits of the natural food for their use on the way. Always label the package with the 

 name of the sender to avoid confusion, as we often receive many boxes at a time. 



Never dip specimens in kerosene or other insecticide before sending; in case of scales, 

 put them in a tight tin box. 



In sending insects or their work, always address to the Entomologist of the Experi- 

 ment Station, Agricultural College, Mich. 



The writer wishes to extend his thanks to Dr. L. 0. Howard, Mr. Theodore Pergande, 

 and Mr. Kotinsky, of the Entomological division of our National Department of Agri- 

 culture; and to Prof. E. Dwight Sanderson, of the Delaware Experiment Station, for 

 determination of specimens; to Prof. M. V. Slingerland, of the Cornell University 

 Experiment Station, and to Mr. V. H. Lowe, of" the New York State Experiment Station 

 at Geneva, for Coccid material; and to the many fruit-growers and farmers who have 

 furnished material for study, often at the cost of considerable trouble. 



THE APRICOT SCALE ON PLUM. 

 {Lecanium armeniacum Craw.) 



The past season has marked the first semi-serious outbreak of the western apricot-scale 

 in Michigan. This scale is thought to have been present in the eastern part of the 

 United States for some time, possibly having been introduced from Europe or from the 

 west. In California, it has committed ravages among the apricot orchards, acquiring 

 by reason of this, the name "apricot-scale." As will be seen a little later on, this pest 

 does not confine its operations to apricot trees, but in the East is more prone to attack 

 plum and grape. The work in Michigan has not been serious enough to warrant any 

 great misgivings, being confined to comparatively few trees; it is, however, a pest that 

 will bear watching and checking whenever and wherever it becomes numerous. 



The apricot-scale belongs to the Coccicke or scale-insects, like the San Jose scale 

 and the English-walnut scale, but its appearance is markedly different from these two 

 species. The individual insects are very many times larger and are not protected 

 with papery coverings. The full grown females are yellowish-brown marked with black 

 when just grown, later turning dark brown and being covered with a powdery or cottony 

 material which resembles the bloom of a plum. They are hemispherical in form, 



