122 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Life History. — The winter is spent in a half-grown condition, 

 maturity being reached early in summer. The scale collects in small 

 compacl colonics, which are easily 

 located by the white sacs in which 

 the eggs are laid. There appears 

 to be but one brood a year. 



Distribution. — This scale is 

 widely distributed throughout the 

 central part of the Stale. 



Food Plants. — The black, val- 

 ley and other oaks, bilberry, gall- 

 berry and grass are attacked. 



THE CALIFORNIA COCHINEAL 



SCALE 



Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell) 



{Coccus confusus Cockerell) 



(Fig. 10-1) 



Description. — Infestations of 

 this scale are easily recognized by 

 tlie masses of thick, white, cot- 

 tony material secreted as a cover- 

 ing over the bodies of the females 

 and the white cocoons of the 

 males. The bodies of the females 

 are crimson red and yield a stain 

 similar to that of the true cochi- 

 neal insect. They vary from £ 

 inch to | inch in length. The 

 cocoons of the males are snow white, oblong and ^ inch long. They 

 are usually closely massed with the females and may or may not be 

 hidden by the cottony material. 



Life History. — The species is more noticeable during the winter 

 months, from November to February, when the eggs are laid. The 

 young begin to hatch in early spring and continue for several months, 

 there being a single uneven annual brood. 



Nature of Work. — This coccid feeds upon the cactus plants, often 

 entirely covering them and causing them to turn yellow and sickly, 

 or completely killing them. Small plants may be greatly stunted or 

 disfigured by their attacks. 



Distribution.— The California cochineal scale is quite commonly 

 distributed throughout the southern part of the State, from Santa 

 Barbara to San Diego counties. 



Food Plants. — The wild species of Opuntia are the preferred hosts. 

 but the scale has also been taken upon Echinocactus sp. and an unde- 

 termined cactus which were imported from Mexico to Ventura, 

 California. 



Control. — Dipping young offshoots or plants in carbolic acid emul- 

 sion or a combination of carbolic acid, crude oil or kerosene emul- 



Fig. 103. — The oak Erioeoccus, Eriocoe- 

 cus quercus (Comst.), on black oak. En- 

 larged twice. (Original) 



