16 B. C. ExXTOMOLOGICAI. PROCEEDINGS, 1911. 



British Columbia, being a comparativeh' nevvl\^ settled Province, has 

 suffered less than most countries from destructive insect pests, although 

 we are, by our geographical position, and having trade relations with 

 practically every nation on earth, especially the Orient, more exposed to 

 insect invasion than any other section or province of North America. 



Early in the history of the Province the pioneer fruit-growers wisely 

 took precaution to protect the country from insect invasion. We profited 

 by the experience of California, and were determined to protect our- 

 selves. In this we were aided by the Government of the day. In 1890 

 steps were taken to create a Board of Horticulture, with power to make 

 regulations governing the inspection of imported nursery stock, trees, 

 plants and fruit. The Regulations of the Board have, by Act of Par- 

 liament, the force of statute law, and it is entirely owing to the pro- 

 visions of these Regulations that the Province is free from many of the 

 most destructive of insect pests, which inflict such financial loss to our 

 neighbours to the south, and the Eastern Provinces of our own 

 Dominion. 



We have, however, a few very destructive pests. I think it is wise to 

 deal with these. I presume that the object of this Society is to study 

 insect life with the view of protecting the country from the depredations 

 of destructive insects. I think we may take this for granted, and there- 

 fore I will deal briefly with some of our most injurious insects. 



Lepidosaphes ulm't, commonly known as the Oyster Shell Scale, or 

 Mussel Scale. I can well remember when this Scale was not known 

 either in California, Oregon, W^ashington or British Columbia. I was 

 quite familiar with conditions in these States up to, and including the 

 year 1885, and am clearly of the opinion that this Scale did not exist 

 anywhere on the Pacific Coast prior to the year 1887, and that probably 

 it was imported on nursery stock from Ontario. 



I saw it first on some grand old apple trees in the vicinity of London, 

 Ontario, in the year 1888. The owner of the trees was entirely oblivious 

 of the presence of the Scale, and was greatly astonished when I sug- 

 gested that he should examine it under a pocket lens. I myself was 

 amazed at the number of scales that were sucking the very life out of 

 these beautiful trees, which were in full fruitage. 



On the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad we began the 

 importation of large quantities of nursery stock from Ontario. This 

 stock was planted mostly on the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island 

 and the Islands, and I have no doubt whatever that the Oyster Shell 

 Scale was imported on this stock. 



Fortunately for the Province, it is rarely found east of the Cascade 

 Mountains in British Columbia. I did discover a case of infection in the 

 Grand Forks Valley last October. In looking over the fruit that was 



