398 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE ORANGE. 



threads of wax, which are cottony in appearance. Soon a 

 small, white, convex scale takes the place of this cottony- 

 coating, which is depressed in the centre. (See d, Fig. 407.) 

 The scales gradnally increase in size, and as they ajiproach 

 maturity there is secreted on the female scale a mass of 

 cottony threads, which increases in quantity until it some- 



riG. 408. 



times extends in a curved form, as shown at /, to a length 

 five times the diameter of the scale. In the figure all the 

 illustrations are highly magnified, except the leaves with the 

 scales on them, which are of the natural size. 



The male is furnished with a single pair of large, trans- 

 parent wings, which enable it to fly readily. It is shown, 

 highly magnified, in Fig. 408. 



No. 254.— The White Scale. 



Aspidiotus nerii Bouche. 



This scale is found on the orange and lemon trees, par- 

 ticularly in Southern California and in Florida, where it also 

 infests a number of other trees and plants, but especially the 

 acacia-tree. In Fig. 409 a twig of acacia is figured infested 

 with this scale. The female scale is flat, whitish or light 

 gray in color, and when mature is only about one-twelfth of 

 an inch in diameter. The eggs are of a light-yellow color. 

 The scale of the female is shown at c in the figure ; the male 



