21 





differ from the Lecaniums and mealy bugs, which have the power to 

 move about until nearly the end of their growing period. 



The number of eggs from a single female varies somewhat with the 

 species, but may be from 100 to 500, the number being less in unfavor- 

 able seasons. The progeny from a single female in a j'^ear, if they 

 should all survive, would represent almost inconceivable numbers, 

 running into the billions. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that 

 plants become thoroughly infested with these insects in a ver}'^ short 

 time, especially in climates where the breeding is but little checked by 

 the winter season. 



The waxy covering makes it necessary to use rather strong washes 

 to penetrate the scale. The difficulty increases when the old scale 

 protects a mass of eggs, as is usuallj^ the case with the species of 

 Mytilaspis, represented by the long and purple scales; and it is not 

 always possible with the best washes ^^^ 



to kill all the eggs of these species, ^^'^^k 



hence the necessity of spraying re- ^.-,- ^= 



peatedly to destroy the 3'oung as 

 they emerge. Remedial operations 

 should be instituted as far as possi- 

 ble when the greatest percentage of 

 the scales are in a young or partly 

 mature condition. 



The Long' Scale. 



The long scale {Mytilaspis gloveri 

 Packard — fig. 9) is supposed to have 

 originated in China, but in common 

 with most of the other species dis- 

 cussed has now a world-wide distri- 

 bution, being represented in practi- 

 cally every important citrus region. 

 It made its appearance in Florida about 1838, and soon became a very 

 serious pest in that State and elsewhere in the Gulf region. At its first 

 appearance it was vastly more destructive than later on, parasitic and 

 natural enemies having in later years kept it decidedly in check. At 

 present it is everywhere distributed throughout Florida and Louisiana, 

 in the orange and lemon groves, and also on wild orange. Strangely 

 enough, it was a long while getting into California. About 1889 or 

 1890, however, in company with the purple scale and rust mite, it was 

 carried into California on a lot of stock from Florida, but it has not 

 developed as a very serious pest in the Pacific coast region. 



This insect is characterized by its very elongate form; in other 

 respects it closely resembles Mytilaspis citricola^ and also the common 

 oyster-shell scale of the apple and other deciduous fruits. In color it 



172 



Fig. 9. — Long scale {Mylilaspis gloveri): Group 

 figure, showing cluster of male and female 

 scales on fruit of orange— enlarged 7 diameters 

 (original). 



