28 INSECTS AFFECTING THE ORANGE. 



EED SCALE OF FLORIDA. 



{Aspidiotus ficns, Asbmead.) 

 [Figs. 4 and 5.] 



The following account of tins species is given in the Report of the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture ibr 1880, page 29G : 



" Scale of Female. —The scale of the female is circular, with the exuviae 

 nearly central ; the position of the tirst skin is indicated by a nipple- 

 like prominence, which in fresh specimens is white, and is the remains 

 of a mass of cottony excretion, beneath which the first skin is shed. 

 The part of the scale covering the second skin is light reddish-brown; 

 the remainder of the scale is much darker, varying from a dark red- 

 dish-brown to black, excepting the thin part of the margin, which is 

 gray. When fully grown the scale measures 2"'™ (.08 inch) in diameter. 

 In some specimens the part covering the exuviae is depressed, and 

 when the scale is removed from the leaf and viewed under a micro- 

 scope with transmitted light, the exuviae, which are bright yellow, 

 show through this part, causing it to apj)ear as described by Mr. Ash- 

 mead. This scale is represented in Fig. 5, natural si7;e; Fig. 5a, en- 

 larged. * * * 



'■'■Egg. — The eggs are pale yellow. 



^^ Scale of Male.— The scale of the male is about one-fourth as large as 

 that of the female ; the posterior side is prolonged into a thin flap, 

 which is gray in color; in other respects the scale appears like that of 

 the female. (Fig. 5&, enlarged.) 



'■'■Male. — (Fig. 4.) Themaleislightorange-yellow in color, with the tho- 

 racic band dark brown and the eyes purplish-black. It very closely re- 

 sembles the males of A. aurantii, but differs from that species in being 



Fig. 4. — Aspidiotus ficus (Ashm.), male. (After Comatock.) 



a smaller insect, with shorter autennne, longer style, wider thoracic band, 

 and with the pockets of the wings for the insertion of the liair of the 

 poisers farther from the body. 



" Derelojymentofthe Insect and f or rn at ion of the Scale. — Thedevelojiment 

 of this insect from the egg to the adult state was followed through five 

 generations. I give, however, only the substance of a part of the notes 



