106 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 15 



Lime sulphur, miscible oils and numerous other preparations were tried without 

 success. Finally a 2% emulsion consisting of fish oil potash soap and 

 Junior Red Engine Oil (a Standard Oil Product) was found to give 100% control. 

 All of the trees in the infested area were defoliated by pruning out all branches and 

 limbs which had leaves on them and the trees were then throroughly sprayed. As 

 an indication of the efficiency of the treatment, in 89 examinations out of 100, made 

 30 days after spraying no live scales were found. Three of the four square miles to 

 be treated have been covered. It is planned to spray twice a year. 



Mr. Barber now has two men who are turning out 1000 gallons of concentrated 

 emulsion a day. The following formula is used: Potash fish oil soap, two pounds; 

 Junior Red Engine Oil, two gallons; water, one gallon. The soap water is brought to 

 boil with live steam, oil is added and the mixture boiled for five minutes. It has to 

 be pumped twice before a satisfactory emulsion can be obtained. The concentrate 

 costs 25c a gallon, which makes it cost Ic a gallon of solution ready to spray. 



In marked contrast to the resistance of this scale to various spray materials is its 

 susceptibility to cyanide gas. The gas from one ounce of NaCN to 1000 cubic feet 

 kills all scales. The fumigating was done at a temperature of 85 — 92 degrees Fahren- 

 heit. It was found that plants with flowers and leaves on could be exposed to this 

 dosage for one hour without being damaged provided that they were put in the 

 shade after the treatment. 



Very little is known concerning the biology of the pest. The scales settle within 

 a few hours after they are hatched. The males are always on the leaves and the 

 females on the twigs. The females deposit from 200 — 250 eggs over a period of 

 about one month. The unusually large scale of the overwintering female as compar- 

 ed with the summer form is interesting. It is considerably larger than is necessary 

 to cover the body of the insect. Ants have been noticed in considerable numbers 

 around infested trees and are doubtless factors in the infestation. So far about 8 

 species of parasites and predators have been found to prey on the species but it is 

 doubtful if they cause 2% mortality. The insect is not known to be a carrier of 

 disease. 



The extremely toxic effect of this scale on most of our plants is of greatest importance. 

 Only a few scales on a twig will cause defoliation. Trees have been known to be 

 killed six months after they were attacked. Camphor, fig, rose, hackberry, elm, 

 citrus and many other hosts are extremely .susceptible to attack. The list of known 

 hosts covers 172 species of plants. It seems certain that its noxiousness is by no 

 means confined to tropical and semi-tropical plants and it must certainly be regarded 

 as a potential pest of the first magnitude, for latitudes north of New Orleans until 

 it can be definitely established that the climatic conditions there are such that the 

 scale cannot thrive. 



The quarantine work in connection with this insect was discussed by Mr. Barber 

 and Mr. Anderson. The quarantine includes all territory within a radius of 20 

 miles around New Orleans and has been effective since June 1921. No certificates 

 are granted to any nursery located in this territory. All nursery stock from this 

 territory must be inspected by a state inspector and must be fumigated by him. 

 No nursery stock whatsoever is allowed to move out of the infested territory and 

 nurseries located in this area are now out of business. Every nursery 

 in the quarantine area is inspected once every thirty days. There is thus a 

 quadruple protection in the fact (1) that all nurseries in the infested area are out of 

 business. (2) No blanket certificates are granted to any nurseryman within a radius 

 of 20 miles of the infestation, (3) all stock in the quarantine area and not in the 

 infested area is first inspected by a state inspector and is then (4) funaigated by this 

 inspector. All post office clerks and agents of common carriers are well informed on 

 the regulations. 



Mr. Anderson stated that the}^ were now at work tracing shipments of plant 

 products which went out of the infested area before the infestation had been dis- 

 covered but that the work was progressing slowly on account of the lack of funds. 

 He suggested that other states might be able to render help in some sort of a coopera- 

 tive capacity for hastening this work. Three infestations in Mississippi have been 

 traced to New Orleans but they have been stamped out. 



It was generally agreed that "Camphor Scale" was not a very appropriate name 

 for this pest in that the insect attacked a large number of hosts among them being 

 all species of fruit trees, as well as oak, hickory, hackberry, elm and numerous other 

 hosts. Those having a more appropriate name to suggest should communicate with 

 the committee on Nomenclature of the American Association of Economic Ento- 

 mologists. 



