REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 207 



Introduction and Spread. 

 As with the larger number of our more injurious pests, the San Jos6 

 scale is not native to North America. Where it originally occurred is 

 not known. It is frequently found upon plants imported from Japan 

 (Coquillett), and also occurs in Chile and in Austraha. It is believed to 

 Jiave been brought into California in or about the year 1870. It first 

 attracted the attention of fruit-growers at San Jose, in Southern Califor- 

 nia, in 1873. In 1882 it had extended into all the fruit-growing districts 

 of California, and had entered Oregon and Washington. It is also found 

 in Nevada, but when first observed there is not known. It is reported in 

 one locality in Idaho, in 1894 (Aldrich), and as well established at Las 

 Cruces, New Mexico (Cockerell). 



Occurrence in Eastern United States. 

 It was quite a surprise when not long ago the discovery was made that 

 this destructive insect had crossed the continent and had made its appear- 

 ance in the Atlantic States. Its first recognition was by Mr. L. O. 

 Howard, of the Division of Entomology at Washington, in August, 

 1893. A supposed fungus disease on pear sent from Charlottesville, Va., 

 to the Department of Agriculture and shown to Mr. Howard, was "at 

 the first glance recognized as that scourge of western orchards, the San 

 Jose scale {Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.)." 



Investigations, etc., by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



During the autumn, two of the assistants of the Entomological 

 Division, Messrs. Schwarz and Coquillett, were sent to Charlottesville, to 

 examine and report upon the infestation. It appeared from their exam- 

 inations that it was hmited in extent, being almost wholly confined to a 

 pear orchard of about a square acre in area, but that it affected pear, 

 peach, plum, apple, currant, rose, quince, gooseberry, and raspberry, and 

 that it had already been present there for several years. It was subse- 

 quently learned that, in all probability, it had been introduced on nursery 

 stock purchased from a New Jersey firm. Mr. Hedges, the owner of the 

 orchard, was of the opinion that it had been brought on currant plants 

 purchased in New Jersey eight years previously. Mr. Schwarz reported 

 on the situation of the infested orchard, the pUnts attacked, other infested 

 places adjoining, habits of the scale, and its observed enemies. Mr. 

 Coquillett reported upon the infested locality, and the conjectural sources 

 of the scale. {Insect Life, vi., 1894, pp. 247-254.) 



Early in the spring of 1894, through the co-operation of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture and the Virginia State Board of Agriculture, 



