INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



165 



THE CORD-GRASS SCALE 

 Chionaspis upartince Comstock 



(Fig. 142 > 



Description. — The female scales are snow-white with pale yellow 

 exuviae, somewhat oyster-shaped with fine cross ridges. They are about 

 ,V inch long. The male 

 scales are of the same 

 color as the females, but 

 are slender and faintly 

 tricarinated. 



Distribution. — T h i s 

 scale occurs plentifully 

 around the San Francisco 

 Hay, especially along the 

 arm extending' into San 

 Mateo, Santa Clara and 

 Alameda counties. 



Food Plant. — The cord- 

 grass (Spartina foliosa) 



is the only known host 

 plant in California. Be- 

 cause it is often confused 

 with destructive orchard 

 and garden cocci ds. a. de- 

 scription is included in 

 this work. 



Fig. 142. — The cord-grass stale. Chionaspis spar- 

 tina Comst.. on cord-grass. The holes were made 

 by parasites. Enlarged three times. (Original) 



THE PINEAPPLE SCALE 



Diaspis bromelice (Kern.) 

 (Coccus bromelice Kern.) 



(Fig. 143) 



Description. — The female scales are nearly circular, thin, white or 

 light gray with yellow exuviae. The bodies are orange-yellow, some- 

 times with blue or purple tints. The male scales are very small, slender 

 and white. 



Life History. — There seems to be but one uneven brood a year, the 

 young appearing in the early spring and the mature scales continuing 

 io live through the winter. The scale usually occurs only in warm 

 countries and in greenhouses. 



