216 SCALE-INSECTS, BARK-LICE, MEALY-BUGS. 
The celebrated Fluted-scale of California, (Icerya purchasi), 
(Fig. 174), at one time the most dangerous pest infesting fruit- 
trees in that state, belongs to this sub-family. 
The genus Kermes is common upon oaks, and is remark- 
able for the wonderful gall-like forms of the adult females, as 
shown in Fig. 175, Plate XV. One species is fairly common in 
our state, especially upon the red oaks, but is kept in check by 
numerous parasites, one of which is a beautiful moth, which de- 
stroys the living contents of these gall-like adult females. The 
moth is shown in Fig. 176. 
SUB-FAMILY LECANINA. 
The characteristics of this sub-family have already been 
given in the table, but the most distinctive character is the pres- 
ence of the sub-triangular ‘anal plate. The body is usually 
elliptical, or circular in outline, with a deep incision at the caudal 
end, leading to the anal opening. The insects are not as sta- 
tionary as other scale-insects, and even some adults move from 
place to place. The males, even of some very common kinds, 
must be quite uncommon, for in some species they are still un- 
known. . 
Prof. Comstock gives the following table to separate the 
genera: é 
A. Body naked or nearly so. 
B. Female secreting a mass of cottony material 
in: which the eres arevaidsa.. . oases PULVINARIA. 
BB. Female laying her eggs beneath her body, 
not excreting a mass of cottony material... LECANIUM. 
AA. Body covered with a layer of wax........... CEROPLASTES. 
The genus Lecantwm occurs on all kinds of plants, both in 
greenhouses and in the open air; it contains numerous destruct- 
ive scales frequently called by the gardener “soft-scales.” These 
soft-scales differ greatly in their breeding habits. “Some are 
Oviparous, an enormous number of eggs being produced, and 
filling the space between the scale. Some produce only a single 
generation in the course of the year, while others produce two 
or more. So there is a difference in the mode of passing the 
winter; this may be as an egg, as a mature, fertilized female, 
or as a partly grown larva.” (Smith). 
