180 FRUIT INSECTS 



Parasitic enemies kill many of the insects under the scales. 

 As the species spreads slowly, cut out and burn the worst 

 infested branches or currant canes and thoroughly drench 

 the plant with any of the winter washes recommended for the 

 San Jose scale, or the young and recently set scales may be killed 

 by spraying with the contact insecticides recommended for 

 summer treatment of the oyster-shell scale (p. 176). 



The Greedy Scale 

 Aspidiotus rapax Comstock 



This European scale insect appeared in California many years 

 ago. It is now abundant there and has gradually spread to the 

 southeast as far as Florida. It attacks various orchard trees, 

 more commonly orange, apple and pear, sometimes appearing 

 on the fruits. The mature female scale is very convex and of a 

 drab or yellowish-brown color, with a dark brown exuvial spot 

 often showing at one side of the center. In California, this 

 greedy scale may be found in all stages at almost any time of the 

 year, even hibernating as eggs, adult females or young. The 

 number of generations annually has not been determined. Four 

 birds, the myrtle and Audubon warblers, wren-tit and bush-tit, 

 eat this scale, their stomachs sometimes being filled with it. 



The winter washes recommended for the San Jose scale will 

 usually control this greedy scale. 



The Apple Leaf-hopper 



Empoasca mail Le Baron 



This is considered the worst all-round leaf -hopper pest, as it 

 works in injurious numbers on so many different plants. 

 Swarms of the active little creatures may attack the foliage of 

 apple, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, potato, sugar beets, beans 



