THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 53 



INSECT NOTES. 



Hippodamia convergens was found during the latter part of November and fore part 

 of December hibernating in quantities in the high Sierras in tlie leaves and brush along 

 the canyons. None were found crawling about, as the temperature ranged from 18 to 

 20 degrees above zero and in some sections snow was on the ground. — E. J. Branigan. 



Professor Elmore Chase, of tlie Fairoaks fruit section, reports that the twig borer, 

 Polycaon confertus, has been doing considerable damage to prune trees where the 

 prunings have been piled alongside the orchard and allowed to decay. — H. S. Smith. 



The green apple aphis, Aphis pomi, De Geer, could be seen in the winged and 

 wingless forms on the remaining leaves of the apple trees, and on the tips of the twigs 

 eggs could be found in great numbers. Some of these were of a verv pale green color 

 but with age. turned to a shiny metallic black. Tlie eggs are about the thickness of 

 a very fine pin and are long and oval in shape. This observation was made on 

 November 30th, at Towle, Placer County, with snow on the ground. — E. J. Branigan. 



Termites are reported to be damaging lemon trees in the vicinity of Germantown — 

 H. S. Smith. 



Adults of clover or almond mite, Bri/obia pratensis, Garman, could be seen on 

 the leaves of the apple trees at Towle, Placer County, November 30th. On the tips of 

 the twigs around tlie buds were great clusters of the eggs of this mite. — E. J. Branigan. 



The oyster shell scale, Leaidosaphes uhni, Linn., has been found upon all .ship- 

 ments of boxwood trees from Holland inspected at San Francisco this season. This 

 scale IS a general feeder, and will attack a great variety of trees, as apple, ash, birch, 

 butternut, cherry, currant, elm, linden, oak, pear, plum, rose, etc. — B. B. Whitney. 



r .r^.9®'^^'' ^''^^^ ^^'^ infested with a small scale, Chionaspis sp. in the Towle and Forest 

 J Hill sections. Placer County. — E. J. Branigan. 



Icerya p)(rchctsi is unusually abundant this winter in several parts of the state. In 



Santa Clara County it is said to be becoming a serious pest of pears. Apparently 



j Vedalia does not seem to flourish on the scale with pears as a host plant. — H. S. Smith. 



Adults of the oleander aphid, Aphis nerii, could be .seen on oleander bushes in Sacra- 

 mento, December 1.3th. — E. J. Branigan. 



I The mealy huq,Pseudococcus asalew. Tins., has been found upon azaleas from 

 Yolto Pref., Japan, this season. This mealy bug does not seem to be a verv bad one, 

 and has never been recorded on anything other than Japanese azaleas. — B. B. Whitney. 



The oyster shell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi, is said to be abundant on apple trees 

 m some parts of Mendocino County. Specimens were received from Horticultural 

 Commissioner Van Dyke of Ukiah. — H. S. Smith. 



Leaf rolling aphids. Rhovalosiphtim arbuti, on manzanita. is quite common in 

 Placer County. It attacks the tips of the tender leaves, causing them to curl and 

 turn a very bright red color, but later the tips of the leaves dry up. at which time the 

 adults leave for other tender leaves. As the leaves grow older and harden, they have 

 the appearance of being scorched by fire. — E. J. Branigan. 



