December, '10] WOODWORTH: CODLING MOTH 473 



sidered as having any direct effect on the crop since the infested 

 apples either drop or are removed at thinning. 



Many of our orchardists make no further sprayings, but almost 

 always to their loss. The best orchardists begin a campaign of one 

 to three sprayings, beginning about the middle of August. There 

 will undoubtedly be an improvement in this matter during the next 

 year or two. Probably the amount of poison used in this section will 

 ultimately be over a hundred tons. 



Over 1,600 barrels of commercial lime-sulfur solution were used 

 during the past winter for San Jose scale, and this material is now 

 being produced in the local factory with a density of 36 degrees Beaume, 

 which is considerably stronger than anything in the market in the East. 



There is very little scab and scarcely any use of Bordeaux mixture; 

 there is beginning to be a little iron sulphid used with the lead for 

 mildew and occasionally zinc arsenate replaces the lead for the first 

 .spraying where the tussock moth must be dealt with. 



The minimum sprayings that give good results in any part of the 

 Valley are three, two for the first brood and one in August, and the 

 maximum is six, three for the spring and three in the summer, and 

 except for the early spring applications must be a strictly neutral 

 arsenate of lead, one containing no ammonia soluble arsenic. 



The Common Name of the Black Scale (Saisselia olece Bern). — In Vol. II, No. 

 6, of this Journal Mr. J. G. Sanders gives the common name of Saissetia olece Bern. 

 as the "OHve Scale." He says, "the popular name 'Black Scale' has been applied 

 to this species, but rather incorrectly, since it is usually very dark brown; the above 

 name should be applied properly to Saissetia nigra, which in the adult female stage 

 visually becomes truly black." 



This brings up the question of the real usefulness of common names for insects. 

 It is true that from its specific name "oleoe" and also its avidity to attack the olive 

 it should be called the "Olive Scale." But since the name "Black" has become 

 :so well established, and, moreover, has been the name officially adopted by the 

 Association of Economic Entomologists, it hardly seems wise to change it at this 

 late date. Common names are useful chiefly to growers and others who are not 

 entomologists. Entomologists in most cases are as familiar with the scientific 

 name as the common name, and there is much less chance for confusion regardless 

 of how appropriate a common name may be. 



Saissetia oleoe as an economic insect in the United States is most important in 

 Cahfornia, and particularly in the southern California citrus belt. Here every 

 grower of citrus trees knows it as the Black Scale and it would lead to needless 

 confusion to attempt to call it anything else. On the other hand, Saissetia nigra 

 Nietn. is not an economic pest anywhere in the United States, and it is of httle con- 

 sequence whether it has any common name at all. From the specific name "nigra" 

 it could of course be appropriately called the Black Scale. But since common names 

 are largely applied to insects of economic importance it would be likely to lead only 

 to confusion to include the entire Ust of insects. While the Black Scale may not 

 always be black, it is blacker than any others of economic importance associated 

 with it, and to change so well established a name on a mere shade of color hardly 

 seems justifiable. H. J. Quayle. 



