THE SAN JOSE SCALE 217 
THE SAN JOSE SCALE IN MINNESOTA. 
PROF. OTTO LUGGER, STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, ST. ANTHONY PARK. 
At this late date it is, perhaps, not even necessary to describe this 
insect, as so much has already been written about it in the various 
horticultural papers, the numerous bulletins of the experiment 
stations and other public documents. Until quite recently we 
only feared that this scale might find its way to our state, and, if 
introduced, it was believed it would soon perish. Such ideas were, 
however, erroneous ones, and the scale has already entered our 
state and, what is worse, is prospering at the present time, thus 
disposing of the belief that it could not exist here. 
It seems that this scale was first noticed in 1873 at San José, Cali- 
- fornia, which fact gave itthe name under which itis now so well 
known. It spread rapidly until 1880, when Prof. Comstock discov- 
ered and collected it in Santa Clara County, and described it in the 
Annual Agricultural Report for that year as Aspidiotus peruti- 
ciosus. He selected this specific name because he found it the most 
pernicious scale-insect known at that time; nor could a better name 
be proposed at this date, as it is by all means the worst insect 
FIG. 1.—a, Infested twig. natural size; b, bark as itappears undera hand lens, 
showing scales in various stages of development, and young larve. (From 
Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agriculture). 
