PROCEEDINGS, 1915. 



41 



San Jose Scale. Scurfy Scale. Oyster Shell Scale. 



Fig. 6. Three Comman Scales infesting the apple (after Slingerland.) 



Life History. The males and females of this insect pass the winter 

 partly grown. They reach maturity the following summer and after 

 mating, the females give birth to living young, no eggs being laid. The 

 tiny yellow young move rapidly over the twigs for a short time, but ev- 

 entually settle down, insert their beak, and begin to secret a scale, which 

 forms a protective covering over their body. As the female develops, 

 she loses antennae, eyes and legs. Like other scale insects she molts 

 twice in the course of her life. 



Unlike the female, the male undergoes a complete metamorphosis, 

 emerging a tiny two-winged insect, entirely devoid of mouth parts, which, 

 after mating with a female, dies. 



This insect may have a number of different broods a year, and a its 

 has been determined that each female may produce about 400 young, 

 the pest may reach enormous numbers. In Nova Scotia it is not more 

 than two-brooded. 



Injuries. As this insect has never been allowed to gain a firm foot- 

 hold, and as the Department of Agriculture is taking steps to stamp out 

 all infection and to prevent further importations, it is unlikely that Nova 

 Scotia growers will be called upon to deal with this pest for some time to 

 come. Though it is not likely that Nova Scotia conditions are as favor- 

 able for the development of the insect as those of certain other fruitgrow- 

 ing countries, nevertheless, we have seen that the insect can bring about 

 the death of a tree even in this province. 



All parts of the plant above ground are attacked and the effect 

 of so many tiny mouths all sucking away at the juices of the plant, 

 is to seriously reduce its vitality. Young trees that are attacked will 

 usually succumb long before they reach maturity. 



