316 



FRUIT INSECTS 



hibernate in the ground or beneath suitable shelter and crawl 

 back to the trees in early spring. (See also page 208.) 

 Treatment. 



Red-spiders may be controlled in greenhouses by the use 

 of sulfur, either as a dust or in water, or by persistent spraying 

 with water, taking care to hit the under side of the leaves. 

 Use lots of force and little water, to avoid 

 drenching the beds. 



When infesting plants in the open, the 

 mites may be destroyed by dusting with 

 sulfur or by spraying with a mixture of 1 

 pound of finely powdered sulfur in 3 gallons 

 of water, in which a little soap has been 

 dissolved. The sulfur settles quickly, and 

 the mixture should be agitated constantly 

 during the spraying. It will help to keep 

 the sulfur in suspension if it is first made 

 into a paste with water containing J of 1 

 per cent of glue. The boiled lime-sulfur 

 solution cannot be used on raspberries, as 

 it is likely to cause foliage injury. 



Excellent results in the control of red- 

 spider have been reported in California 

 from the use of a flour paste prepared as 

 follows : 



Mix a cheap grade of wheat flour with cold water, making a 

 thin batter, without lumps; or wash the flour through a wire 

 screen with a stream of cold water. Dilute until there is one 

 pound of flour in each gallon of mixture. Cook until a paste 

 is formed, stirring constantly to prevent caking or burning. 

 Add sufficient water to make up for evaporation. For use, 

 add 8 gallons of this stock solution to 100 gallons of water. 

 When mixed in the spray tank flour paste has a tendency to 

 settle and in order to do satisfactory work agitation is necessary. 



Fig. 273. — The red 

 spider. Redrawn after 

 MissM. A. Palmer(x66). 



