86 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTOEIA : 



lu the case of some scale insects tlie female fills its 

 scale with eggs in the fall and perishes, the eggs winter- 

 ing over and hatching the following spring. After being 

 expelled the larva? remain motionless for a little while, 

 with antennae and legs folded beneath the body. It 

 soon hardens enough to run about, and, forcing its way 

 out from beneath the protecting scale of the mother, 

 scurries over the plant to find a suitable place to settle. 



The newly-born larva (see Fig. V.) is an almost 

 microscopic insect of pale-orange colour (our Fig. III. 

 gives this as nearly as possible), with the customary six 

 legs and two feelers, the long thread-like proboscis with 

 which the juices of the plant are sucked up is doubled on 

 itself, and lies in a part of the body wall, the tip only 

 projecting. 



The male and female scales are similar in size, colour, 

 and shape until after the first moult, which occurs twelve 

 days after the emergence of the larva. The mature male 

 (see Fig. VI.) appears as a delicate two- winged fly-like 

 insect, with long feelers and a single anal style projecting 

 from the end of the body, orange in colour, with a faint 

 dusky shade on the prothorax. In Washington four 

 successive generations were regularly developed, with the 

 possibility of a partial fifth generation. 



In Australia, then, we have a large field for useful 

 observation, as upon a careful study of the life history of 

 these pests under changed conditions much depends as to 

 whether we may be able to successfully cope with it or 

 not, and in Part TV. any local observations will be care- 

 fully noted, and therein published for the information of 

 growers, and any notes or observations bearing on the 

 subject from those living in affected spots will be thank- 

 fully received and promptly acknowledged by the Ento- 

 mological Branch of the Department of Agriculture. It 

 may be remarked that as much of the above valuable 

 information has been taken from the best and most up-to- 

 date American publications the information contained is 

 absolutely reliable. 



