302 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 332 



Control. — On March 26, 1915, the writer sprayed tulip trees in 

 Marietta, Ohio, which were very badly infested with this scale. The 

 day was warm and sunny, temperature 42° to 46° F. Scalecide, 

 diluted at the rate of 1 part to 15 parts of water was used and the 

 application was made with a power sprayer. 



On July 22, 1915, the sprayed trees were examined and were 

 found to be in perfect condition, clothed with an abundance of clean, 

 bright-green foliage and no live scale present. Nearby, unsprayed 

 trees presented the usual disgusting appearance of trees badly 

 infested with this scale. The leaves were sooty, as was also the 

 sidewalk, and visiting insects were present in countless numbers. 

 Indeed it was one of the most striking demonstrations of spraying 

 results the writer ever saw. 



The foregoing experience has been borne out in other instances 

 in the State, hence miscible oil, used at the rate of 1 part to 15 parts 

 of water, applied in the spring before foliage starts is a safe and 

 reliable control for the tulip tree scale. 



THE MAGNOLIA SCALE 

 {Neolecanium cornuparviun Thrs.) 



Description. — In many respects the magnolia scale closely re- 

 sembles the foregoing species. It is larger, however, the mature 

 females measuring almost one-half of an inch across, but flatter. 

 In late July or early August just before the young begin to appear 

 it is abundantly covered with a white, mealy wax, giving the host 

 the appearance of having bits of dough stuck to the branches. It 

 is the largest and most conspicuous of our scale insects. (See 

 Plate LIII, Fig. 3.) 



Life history and habits. — As is characteristic of many scales of 

 this group, the winter is passed by the immature scale insects of 

 this species upon the twigs of the host. By late July or early 

 August of the following summer, growth is complete and the young 

 begin to appear. There is but one brood per season. 



Nature of work. — Death of the host may result from the unre- 

 stricted action of this scale (See Plate LII, Fig. 4), and in any case 

 where the insects are at all abundant the attractiveness of the host 

 is marred by the sooty mold which thrives upon the abundant dis- 

 charge of honey-dew of the scales. As with the preceding species 

 a second incidental result is the scourge of insect visitors attracted 

 by the sweet honey-dew. 



Food plants. — As the name of the scale would suggest, the vari- 

 ous species of magnolia are the principal hosts of this scale. It 

 has been reported also as affecting Daphne and Virginia creeper. 



