58 



CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



incision; the fourth pair at one half the distance to penultimate seg- 

 ment. Groups of circumgenital gland-orifices are absent. Rows of 

 dorsal spines are not prominent, though variable. 



On apple, pear, peach, quince, apricot, plum, hawthorn, rose, currant, 

 raspberry, etc. 



This scale is known the world over as the San Jose scale, yet it Is a 

 fact that it is very scarce at San Jose or in the district surrounding that 

 city. At one time this species was extremely troublesome in California, 

 but the internal parasite Aphelinus fuscipennis has done such excellent 

 work that it is not a pest in California any more. We also have several 

 species of Coccinellids (ladybirds) that prey upon it and have mate- 

 rially assisted in the work of controlling this once serious pest. 



Aspidiotus rapax Comst. 



(Greedy Scale.) 



Scale of Female. — Very convex, gray, almost white, translucent, ap- 

 pearing yellow because of insect beneath; the sub-central exuviae 

 marked by a brown or black dot and a concentric ring. Ventral scale 

 snow-white and usually entire. 



Scale of Male. — Similar to scale of female ; scarcely 

 so convex, with exuviae sublateral. 



Female. — Only median lobes well developed and 

 prominent, sharply notched on either side, the mesal 

 notch near the apex. Second and third lobes are 

 represented by small, pointed projections on the 

 margin. A deep incision laterad of the median 

 and second lobes, bounded by subequal chitinous 

 processes. Two irregular toothed or branched plates 

 caudad of each incision, with a simple one between 

 them and two or three simple or furcated ones 

 laterad of the third lobe. On each surface, spines 

 are located at the lateral basis of each lobe; the fourth spine at about 

 two thirds of the distance to the penultimate segment. The ventral 

 fourth spine is slightly laterad of the corresponding dorsal gpine. 

 Groups of circumgenital gland-orifices absent. Dorsal pores in two or 

 three irregular rows; the second of about six; the third of about four. 

 The anal orifice is very large. 



On willow, holly, ivy, acacia, orange, pittosporum, camellia, palms, etc. 



This species is commonly known as the greedy scale, and it is well 

 named, as it certainly seems to have no choice as to host plant, but 

 thrives on almost any one of our shrubs. An internal parasite is par- 



FIG. 28. Aspidiotus 



rapax. 



(Greedy Scale.) 



