INSECTii INFEST ma THE ALMOND TREE. 



235 



does not deposit tiie eggs, but at maturity fastens herself to 

 the bark or leaf and dies ; the covering is removed from the 

 body by the males, exposing from lifteen to twenty whitish 

 eggs. I have counted one hundred and twenty-seven female 

 bodies fastened by the anterior part to the bark, and have also 

 noticed the male insects removing the skin of the dead females, 

 and in this way exposing the eggs. 



Fig. 223. ^iS- '-^-3- — I^ai'^'a of Red Spider, enlarged 



— color, bright red. 



The young mite, when first hatched from 

 the egg, has only six legs (Fig. 223) ; in a 

 fcM^ days a film seems to cover the body, 

 and from this emerges the perfect mite, 

 having eight legs. (Fig. 222.) 

 T]ie injury done Ijy this species is principally on the fruit 

 buds, Ijlossoms, and on the leaves ; they eat the epidermis or 

 skin of the latter, and also cover them with a fine web, caus- 

 ing tliem to wither and fall off. The trunk, liml)S and branches 

 of trees seriously infested by this mite appear of a reddish 

 coloi- ; this is from being covered by a multitude of the eggs of 

 these mites. (Fig. 224.) 



Fig. 224. — Portion of a twig infested by Red 

 Spiders. 



In some cases where not seriously infested, it 

 has the appearance of Ijeing covered with iron 

 rust. 



When this species first attack a tree the mites 

 are generally found around tlie bud and new 

 foliage. 



The red spider is also occasionally found on 

 trees infested by scale insects. 

 Remedy. — Use No. 34. 



Fig. 224. 



