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3 The Avocado: Its Insect Enemies. BY 
Care should be taken when using oil emulsions with “hard” or 
brackish waters to see that no free oil separation occurs during spray- 
ing. Free oil is detrimental to the foliage of the avocado. Where 
considerable free oil forms in the spray tank, much of the efficiency of 
the spray is lost, as the oil is the principal killing agent in the oil 
: emulsion. 
; 
FOREIGN INSECT ENEMIES OF THE AVOCADO. 
The avocado in its native lands has a number of very destructive 
insect enemies, which, were they to gain entrance to the United 
States, would prove unquestionably more destructive than any exist- 
ing in this country at the present time. The Department of Agricul- 
ture, being fully aware of the possibilities of the introduction of 
dangerous foreign avocado pests, has, with the cooperation of the 
_ several States where the avocado is now being grown, established 
rigid quarantines and is doing everything possible to protect this 
valuable fruit industry. 
A very destructive pest liable to introduction into the United 
States is an avocado weevil?® occurring in Mexico and Guatemala. 
In general appearance this weevil, which averages three-fifths of an 
inch in length, is very dark brown, and the wing covers bear two 
conspicuous transverse bands of densely placed hairs. It infests the 
seed of the avocado particularly, but will also feed upon the flesh of 
the fruit. The larve breed and tunnel through the tissues of the 
seed, making the fruit worthless. 
Another dangerous weevil™ of the avocado with similar destruc- 
tive characteristics occurs in Guatemala. In general appearance it 
is shining black in color. The wing covers are moderately clothed 
with hairs of three colors intermixed—rose-red, rather pale brownish, 
and a few white. It averages about one-fourth inch in length. 
_ Still another pest of prime importance is the Mediterranean fruit 
fly.2. This notorious and widespread enemy of cultivated fruits is 
present and causes havoc in a few foreign countries where the 
avocado is grown. 
10 Heilipus lauri Boh. 
11 Conotrachelus perseae Barber. 
“ Ceratitis capitata Wied. 
