448 Report of the Entomologists of the 



ally in most plum orchards and during the past season we found 

 it scattered in several nurseries, hence it may yet be considered 

 a pest which should be carefully watched with a view to prevent- 

 ing other serious outbreaks. 



History. — Previous to 1893 but little was known of this insect 

 in this State, although it seems to be the prevailing opinion 

 among prominent fruit growers that the insect has been in the 

 plum orchards of western New York for twenty years or more, 

 but not in sufficient numbers to cause special comment. During 

 the seasons of 1893 and 1894 the insect did great damage to 

 western New York plum orchards, but in the spring of 1895 

 comparatively few of the scales could be found, most of them 

 having succumbed to the attacks of parasites, predaceous insects 

 and climatic changes. 



Present distribution. — Accurate data as to the present distribu- 

 tion of this insect is wanting. This or a very similar species, 

 hoiwever, is known in the south and a species which is probably 

 identical is reported from England. Judging from our observa- 

 tions during the past season, the scale is at present scattered 

 through many of the larger plum orchards in w^/stern New York 

 and may be occasionally seen in the nurseries, but in only a 

 few cases have we found it in sufficient numbers to do serious 

 injury. We have observed the species in the following counties: 

 Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, On- 

 ondaga, Richmond and Queens. 



Food plants. — As its name indicates, this species is especially in- 

 jurious to the plum. It has also been reported upon apple, pear, 

 maple, Cissus, cherry and peach. In addition to these food plants 

 the writer has found a very closely allied if not identical species 

 upon quince, apricot, cultivated blackberry, cultivated grape, 

 honey locust, black ash and iron wood [Ostryia]. 



Descriptions and life history. — A detailed account of this insect 

 is given in the Fourteenth Annual Report of this Station, pages 

 574-593. As comparatively few of the reports are left for distri- 

 bution, however, it may be well to repeat the life history of the 

 insect substantially as given therein. 



