GREATER VINE SCALE. Ill 



CHAPTER CXXVI. 



Greater Vine Scale. 



(Lecanium berberidis, Sch.) 



Order : Hemiptera. Family : Coccidae. 



This formidable pest of the vine, the largest of the hard- 

 shelled scales I know of, was first brought under my notice 

 by the late Mr. George Neilson, the well-known horti- 

 culturist and fruit expert, and was found by him on some 

 vines growing at Hawthorn, Victoria. Heroic measures 

 were at once resorted to ; the tree was hard-pruned, the 

 cuttings burned, and the remaining portion of the plant 

 sprayed with hot resin compound and a strong kerosene 

 emulsion. This severe treatment evidently had the effect 

 of arresting for the time the spread of this gigantic scale, 

 but its presence was soon reported from other localities. 



It would be interesting to know by what means it was 

 introduced into our State ; as in all viticultural matters the 

 greatest care has been taken, it could hardly have 

 been through the agency of vines or their cuttings. 

 It is now well known that this scale is not restricted to 

 vines, and it has been found on shrubs and climbing plants 

 of several kinds, but, so far as I am aware, not on fruit 

 trees. Judging from the specific name of this pest, the 

 " Barberry " (Berberis) must have been its host plant, but 

 of this I am not certain. 



That this scale is on the increase there is no doubt, but 

 as it is so large it is easily seen, and steps can at once be 

 taken for its eradication. 



