THE SOFT SCALE OF THE PLUM. - 57 



THE SOFT SCALE OF THE PLUM. 

 Eulecanium cerasifex, Fitcli. 



This scale, which seems to be rapidly increasing in ]\Iinne- 

 sota, we. found in large numbers in June on the Plum, Elm, 

 Mountain Ash, different Spireas, and a species, which appears 

 identical, also occurs on the Hard and Soft Maple. An owner 

 of a plum orchard in Ramsey county reports it as very abund- 

 ant this year on his trees and those of his neighbors, and in 

 July a number of specimens were received from Aitkin county. 



Fig. -IS. — Eulecanium on Elm. (Avithor's illustration.) 



Its Life History: The large brown scales noticed on the 

 twigs and branches during the year are females. The young • 

 of the preceding year, flat, spindle-shaped, much smaller than 

 their parents, having hibernated on the stems and branches 

 amongst the larger scales, begin to move about early in tliQ 

 spring, and attach themselves finally, for the most part, to the 

 undersides of the small branches. These little animals grow 

 rapidly, and before the summer is through are as large as their 

 parents. The winged males issue from delicate scales, known 

 by their smaller size, and whitish color. The males may issue 

 in May, possibly, and they perish after mating with the females. 

 The fertilized females soon begin to lay eggs, and finally the 

 hemispherical scale is nothing but a covering over thousands 

 of tiny eggs, the body of the female shriveling up as egg laying 

 proceeds. Although this dead scale is in itself no menace 

 to the fruit grower, its presence is proof positive that there are 

 also on the tree hundreds of young scales which wdll work de- 

 struction if not killed. 



