L38 



[NJURIOUS \N'D BENEFICIAL [NSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



THE FLORIDA WAX SCALE 

 Geroplastes ftoridensis Conistock 



(Fig. 117) 



Description. The adult females are white or pinkish wax scales. 

 oval in form, convex above and concave beneath and from T V to £ inch 

 in diameter. The upper sur- 

 face of the wax covering is 

 e v enl y and beautifully 

 lobed, as shown in Fig. 117. 

 The body is red, giving the 

 pinkish color to the some- 

 whal transparent wax. The 

 eggs arc 1-100 inch long' and 

 dark red. 



Life History. — Each 

 female lays from 75 to 100 

 eggs. The young hatch be- 

 neath the scale and soon 

 after leaving settle to feed. 

 firsl upon the leaves and 

 then upon the stems and 

 smaller branches. The wax 

 covering f o r m s with the 

 g ro w t h of the females. 

 There arc from three to four 

 broods a year, covering a 

 period !' r o m April to 

 Novembei . 



Nature of Work. — The 

 young and adult females 

 work upon the leaves and 

 smaller branches of the 

 food plants. 



Distribution. — This scale 



is usually round in orna- 

 in e n 1 a I nurseries, green- 

 houses and private gardens. 

 It was reported as taken in 

 the sunt hern part of the 

 State as early as 1889. 82 



Food Plants. Andromeda, Anthurium, apple, red bay, citron, cus- 

 tard apple. Perns, fig, gall-berry, grapefruit, guava, holly, lemon, 

 Lignum vitce, Loquat, mango, myrtle, oleander, orange. ' trifoliate 

 orange, pear, pomegranate, quince and tea are attacked by this species. 



Control. II is seldom that this insect becomes SO numerous as to 

 be destructive, hut this has occurred. Spraying should be done before 

 the waxy covering is formed. Resin wash or oil emulsions are recom- 

 mended. 



Fig. 117. — The Florida wax scale, Ceroplas- 



idensis Comst., on trifoliate orange. Only 



slightly enlarged. The specimens were received 



from E. W. Berger, Jacksonville, Fla. (Original) 



,2 Insec1 Life, I, p. 326, 1 889. 



