430 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



convex ; but from the great similarity of the newly hatched lice I am 

 inclined to the opinion that they are all the same species, and are ouly modi- 

 fied in form and size by the kind of food they take. Close attention through 

 the season will determine this point. 



The natural history of these lice is as follows : In May and June the large 

 brown scales — the mature lice, all of which are females — are seen ou the under 

 side of the branches of the trees. These scales are brown, usually oblong, 

 though occasionally they are nearly hemispherical, aud always quite convex. 

 On the hickory tlie scales are very convex, and appear as deep cups upon 

 removal from the twig or branch to which they are fastened. As already 

 stated, we find a white, cotton-like mass under the maple scale louse, which 

 serves to hold the eggs ; as these scale-like cups are removed, they leave a white 

 spot on the twig. The size of the scales varies much, not only on different 

 trees, but even on the same tree. The largest scales on the maple and bass- 

 wood measure in length from five to eight mm. (1-5 to 1-3 of an inch), aud 

 are usually less in width, though the base of the scale is frequently circular 

 instead of oblong. 



Under each scale in May and June we find from 700 to 1,000 small, white, 

 oblong eggs. These are very minute, less than three mm. long, and a little 

 more than half as wide. As they fall on a dark surface they appear like 

 flour, but when magnified their real nature is plainly evident. Under a single 

 scale of each of the maple, the bass-wood, and the ash louse, I counted 

 upwards of 800 of these eggs. 



In June and July these eggs hatch. I find that in the maple louse they are 

 often as much as three weeks hatching from a single scale, and on all 

 the trees they are from three to four weeks hatching — that is, it will be three 

 or four weeks after the first eggs hatch, before all are hatched out. 



The young lice which come forth from the eggs in the latter days of June 

 and in early July are yellow, oblong, and when first hatched a little more than 

 4 mm. long, and a little more than half as wide as long. A slit marks the 

 posterior part of the body, from which passes two hair-like stylets, which are 

 a little more than half as long as the body. The eyes and six jointed antennae 

 show plainly. The latter have one hair projecting from the inside of the 

 first, second, and fourth joints and several from the last joint, one of which is 

 considerably longer than the others. The several joints of the legs are plainly 

 marked, and the two jointed tarsi, and claws are distinctly visible. A complete 

 row of marginal hairs is found in all the young lice. The fact that all the 

 young lice, except the ones from the scales with the cotton like mass, are so 

 exactly alike, makes me conclude that all are of the same species. 



Very soon after hatching the young lice settle down as squatters on the 

 leaves, usually on the under side, where they insert their beaks, which are 

 long, triple, thread-like organs, and begin to pump out the sap and vitality 

 from the trees. The young lice, as soon as they thus locate, become more 

 flat, transparent, and of a lighter color. I find they may change their position 

 on the leaves, even after they settle down as confirmed sappers, but I think 

 they do not move much. Some time after they commence their life's work of 

 pumping up sap they drop the anal stylets. If removed at this time from a 

 leaf the long triple-haired beak is readily seen. 



Along in the fall, before the leaves drop from the trees, the lice forsake the 

 leaves and fasten to the under side of the branches and twigs. They are now 

 considerably larger, but the slit at the posterior extremity is still plainly 

 visible. 



