The attacks of this scale insect are ahiiost exclusively confined to 

 Euonymus, although it has been found infesting the common wild 

 bittersweet {Celastrns scanden,^^ especially when growing in proximity 

 to infested Euonymus. The native wild species of the latter plant 

 and the introduced and horticultural varieties seem to suffer to the 

 same extent from the attack of their common pest, and it is no 

 uncommon sight to see plants of our wild species dying in the open 

 forests and woodlands. 



In 1886 Lichtenstein reported that at Montpellier, France, this scale 

 was so destructive to Euonjaiius that it rendered the cultivation of 

 that plant almost impossible; and more recently from Japan come 

 reports of serious injury to FAionymus japonica. 



HOST PLANTS. 



This insect was first brought to the attention of the scientific world 

 in the Agricultural Report for 1880 by Prof. J. H. Comstock, then 

 U. S. Entomologist, who reported that it had destroyed nearly all the 

 plants of Euonymus latlfoUa in Norfolk, Va. There are records of 

 its injury to Euonymus japonica^ E. europseus^ E. radicans^ E. atro- 

 purpureus^ variegated and other horticultural varieties of Euonymus, 

 and Celastrus scandens (bittersweet). 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Records are at hand of the occurrence of this scale in the following 

 States, and it no doubt occurs in many others: Massachusetts, New 

 York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mainland, District of 

 Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, 

 and California. It is also reported from France, Italy, and Japan. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This scale is exceedingl}'^ prolific. A plant which becomes infested 

 is soon so completely covered that the attack results in its early 

 destruction. There are at least two broods each season, and a prob- 

 able third one in the Southern States. 



A badly infested plant appears as if covered with snow, this condi- 

 tion being due to the presence of the enormous number of the pure 

 white male scales, which are more conspicuous than the brown female 

 scales. The photograph (fig. l)of a moderately infested twig of varie- 

 gated Euonymus conveys an idea of the general appearance of this 

 scale. Note the comparatively few, elongate-oval, brown female scales 

 as contrasted with the great number of the narrow, white, tricarinate 

 scales of the males. 



As in all the scale insects of this class, the female Euonymus scale 

 is permanonth^ fixed to one location except for a few hours or days in 



[Cir. 114] 



