LOCAL FAUNA 



The Citrus White Fly 



The small white fly which invaded Charleston this summer 

 in such dense swarms proves to be the Citrus White Fly (Aley- 

 rodes citri). This insect was first noticed in Florida, where it 

 feeds extensively upon the orange, grape-fruit and lemon trees. 

 From Florida it has, unfortunately, been carried to California. 

 Owners of fruit groves infested by it incur an annual loss of not 

 less, and often far more, than fifty per cent. 



The White Fly begins its life in an egg laid on the under side 

 of a leaf of one of its food plants. In about three weeks the 

 larva hatches. At first an active little insect which feeds upon 

 the juices of the leaf, it soon develops into a tiny scale-like 

 object, secreting in this and in the following pupal stage a sticky 

 fluid, called honey-dew, in which a black mold forms. This 

 mold, on badly infested trees, spreads a dark covering over both 

 leaves and fruit. Although not killed, the tree is so sapped of 

 its vitality that its producing power is reduced practically one- 

 half. Moreover, what fruit does form is of an inferior grade. 



This fly has three broods, the larva of the last brood hatching 

 late in October. Not until spring does the pupa form, while 

 the adults — the flies — first appear in March and April. A 

 second brood in June and July and a third in August and Sep- 

 tember complete the life cycle. 



The United States Department of Agriculture has experi- 

 mented extensively as to the best means of minimizing the 

 ravages of this pest. It advocates fumigation with hydrocy- 

 anic-acid gas, a process known as "gassing", which is success- 

 fully used in California. In this process a tent is drawn over the 

 tree which is to be fumigated and the gas is generated under its 

 shelter. 



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