62 



About May 1st, or even earlier, these little scales begin to move about on the 

 tree; they are seeking a suitable place to estabHsh themselves. This they usually 

 do on the under sides of the smaller branches. Once established, most of them, 

 probably, never move from the spot. Each scale inserts its little beak or sucking 

 organ into the bark for nearly two months, each insect's pump is kept 

 constantly at work, dra"^ing out the '^ap. The result is that they increase in size 

 remarkably fast and grow to the dimensions mentioned above for the larger 

 scales. Those attaining that size are all females. 



Difference in tlie appearance of female and male scales. We must now 

 mention the difference of appearance between the male and female scales. Many 

 of the little scales do not grow into the large conspicuous scales. But, after 

 feeding for a short time, their skin is cast off and the insect forms a thin, delicate 

 semi-transparent, whitish, ribbed scale or shell over the pupae. Beneath this 

 cast skin, the male insect develops. It is very delicate in structure and is pro\ided 

 with two large whitish wings and two long white filaments which project from the 

 end of the insect's abdomen. The male scale insect is thus much smaller, flatter, 

 more elongated, and is of a whitish colour. They often occur in considerable 

 numbers among the large browTi female scales, in June and July. They are rarely 

 seen after July. The males doubtless emerge in May or June, but probably live 

 only long enough to meet with the then matured females. 



Mating and egg-laying. The mating is performed from about May 15th to 

 June 15th or somewhat later on, the female being at that time full grown. Egg- 

 lajdng begins then immediately and lasts during seven or ten days. The female 

 lays her eggs under her own body, and what was a large fleshy soft-bodied female 

 becomes, when the task is performed, only a thin hard shell closely adhering to 

 the branch and containing a mass of embryonic life in the form of minute white 

 eggs. The number of these laid by a single female is enormous, reaching into the 

 thousands. 



Hatching and first moves of the young scales. Hatching takes place in 

 June and July and the young scales begin to move and go into the leaves and fruit 

 stems where they at once begin to suck the sap. Their presence soon tells upon 

 the \-igour and health of the trees. 



But the most noticeable indication of the presence of the pest is caused by 

 the clear, sweet, sticky liquid known as honey-dew which the little scales secrete 

 in July and August. A black fungus always accompanies this honey-dew, growing 

 in and spreading all through it, and the fluid is secreted in such quantities as to 

 Hterally cover the whole tree. The consequence is that badly infected trees 

 present a disgusting, black appearance as if coated with a thin, sticky, smutty 

 substance. The fruit is also injured and dwarfed. 



