570 



NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



At Mountainside the ''Union Conuty Treo-Spraying Company'^ 

 has established itself and is doing considerable work in the neigh- 

 boring towns, villages and tluMr gardens and streets. It has a 

 neat tag which is attached to each sprayed tree, giving date of 

 application and material nsed. 



Altogether, this branch of the Avork of the office has not been 

 neglected and has been of distinct importance. 



THE SIGNATE LADY-BIRD BEETLE. 



In those cities in which the cottony majDle scale or Fulvinaria 

 was most abnndant during 1905, it was noted that the natural 

 enemies were also increasing in proportionate numbers, and it was 



predicted that during 1906 the 

 infestation would be much less, 

 if not entirely cleaned up. The 

 most important agent in this 

 work was without doubt the 

 signate ladydvird beetle, Hij-_ 

 jwmspis S'ignaia, wdiich was 

 ligured and described in the 

 report for 1905. In order to 

 follow its work and its relation 

 to the host, Mr. Dickerson was 

 instructed to watch it on his 

 visits to the infested cities and 

 towns and in Xew Brunswick, 

 which he did. 



It was first seen in New 

 Brunswick about the nnddle of April, on the trunks of sugar 

 maples infested with the Pseudococciis. The latter were at that 

 time moving around on and crawling up the trunk, and this leads 

 to the suggestion that they might be destroyed in large numbers by 

 winter spraying with a soluble oil, supplemented in early spring 

 by a sticky band, say of "•tanglefoot,'" at the base of the branching, 

 which would prevent the infestation of the tree above. 



The beetles, when observed, were probably fresli ivom their 

 Avinter quarters and resting quietly on tlu^ l^ark. and some exam- 

 ples, with a number of the Pseudococcus, were taken to the labo- 



Fij;. 23. 



The SiKimte Liulv-bird, Jlupcmxpii) sigitata; 

 ouhirged. Original. 



