248 POMONA COLLEGE JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY 



and egg masses and so kill the insects through contact. The effect on eggs 

 seemed especially good, for the egg masses soon dried up after the first 

 spraying and disappeared. At this time of the year great masses were 

 located upon the trunks of the trees and these were totally destroyed with 

 the one application. 



This experimental work was carried on with a small hand spray pump and 

 a hand duster. The first results were naturally unsatisfactory, but all the 

 promising sprays were afterwards applied with a power sprayer and the re- 

 sults were infinitely better. 



Powders 



A special hand blower, Leggett's Champion Duster, was purchased for 

 the application of powders. Wherever such a powder was used, a most liberal 

 application was made, so as to get the best results possible. The doses were 

 repeated several times in course of the three months of experimental work. 

 Due to the waxy secretion of the mealy bug, the powders were unable to 

 effectually reach the insect body and kill through contact. The work was 

 entirely unsatisfactory and I am safe in saying that nothing worth while 

 was accomplished. The following powders were used : 



FLOWERS OF SULFUR. 



These were blown upon the trees with the duster in great quantities 

 early in the morning while the dew was heavy on the trees. The results 

 obtained were entirely unsatisfactory — many of the mealy bugs were seen 

 a week after the application, crawling with the sulphur upon their backs. 



DEHYDR.XTED LIMB. 



Dehydrated lime was blown upon the tree as was the sulphur. Many 

 of the mealy bugs were dried up where the lime was heaped upon them in 

 great quantities. It was very difficult to make the lime stick, for as soon 

 as it was dried out by the sun the wind blew much of it from the trees. 

 Especially was this true on the underside of the leaves and fruit. Generally 

 speaking, this is not an effectual remedy at all for this pest. In a very damp 

 country it might be much more effectual, but here it is unpractical. 



UNSLACKED LIME. 



Unslacked lime was pulverized and blown on the damp trees early in 

 the morning. This might be effective if the mealy bugs were also damp, but 

 such is never the case because of their waxy secretion. The lime cannot be 

 heaped upon their bodies in quantities large enough to do effective work. 

 In Florida it is said that unslacked lime is very effective. This may be 

 due to the much moister climate than we have here. Especially is it hard 

 to get the lime to cling to the mealy bugs on the tmdersides of the leaves 

 and fruit. 



FLOWERS OF SULPHUR AND DEHYDRATED LIME. 



Flowers of Sulfur and Dehydrated Lime were mixed in equal parts and 

 applied in a manner as either alone. The results obtained were no better than 

 those of the other dry sprays. 



