570 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the same State. As usual, it was accompanied by the common aspara- 

 gus beetle, which arrived first. The spread of the insect from Monroe 

 County, New York, where it was found in 1894, is less rapid than from 

 the southern starting point. This is the northern limit of the upper 

 Austral life zone, and the further spread of the insect maybe expected 

 to be southwest along this zone. 



At present its range embraces the southern half of New Jersey, 

 the whole of southeastern Pennsylvania, and northeastern Virginia. 

 Though its starting point was different, this species has followed 

 almost the same course as Grioceris asparagi, especially southward 

 along the coast line. Like that species, too, its spread inland is slow; 

 but later it will, no doubt, invade all tlie territory now affected by that 

 species. 



As yet the life history is imperfectly understood. The eggs still 

 remain unknown, as well as much of the larval history. A few larvae 

 have been found, one upon the leaves of the food plants, the others in 

 the berries. In Europe there are 2 broods, and the insect winters as 

 pupa 1 during the second one; but here there is good reason to believe, 

 especially in the southern range, that there are more than 2 broods 

 and that the insect winters in the adult state. The remedies for the 

 common species applj r to this one also. 



Insect control in California, 0. L. Maelatt ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1896, pp. 217-236, pi. 1, Jigs. 2). — The author notes the distinc- 

 tive cultural conditions of California which require irrigation and limit 

 orchards to well-defined tracts and permits orchard inspection and 

 insect control, as well as the climatic conditions which have no incon- 

 siderable influence. The great dry heat during summer, for instance, is 

 inimical to the black scale and also to the imported ladybird and to 

 pruning. The system of inspection and quarantine that has been devel- 

 oped by the State is thought most important. Under this system the 

 main aim is prevention. If even a few scales are discovered, the treat- 

 ment is prompt and often more extensive than would be thought neces- 

 sary elsewhere. To this promptness and thoroughness of action is 

 attributed the excellent condition of the orchards, especially in the 

 citrus districts. The worst scale insects of California are thought to 

 be the black scale (Lecanium olew), which occurs all over the State and 

 commands the most attention, but so far as great injuries are concerned 

 it is limited to the coast region, mountainous districts being thus far 

 unfavorable to it, though it is slowly extending its rauge to them and 

 becoming acclimatized; the red scale {Aspidiot.us aurantii) on citrus 

 trees, with the black scale damaging old seedling orchards, especially 

 in the viciuity of Los Angeles; in the district of Riverside, Red Lands, 

 Pomona, Ontario, etc., it is not bad; the San Jose scale (Aspidiotus 

 jxriiiciosus) is placed third in importance and is very much less injurious 

 now than in its earlier history, especially iu the Santa Clara Valley and 

 in southern California. Climatic conditions often kill it out, but it is 



