100 SOFT OBANGE SCALE. 



L. hesperidum, Linn., under the name of the "Holly 

 and Ivy Scale," and records it as being present " every- 

 where on Ivy, Holly, Camellia, Orange, Laurel, Myrtle, 

 Box, and many other plants out of doors or in green- 

 houses. In Europe chiefly on Ivy and Oranges, but 

 frequently on other plants. In America on many 

 plants." 



In Europe this species of Scale insect is mentioned 

 by M. Signoret as being found on Oranges, both in the 

 greenhouse and the open air, and on surrounding 

 plants. 



The prevalence of this Scale on various kinds of 

 plants might perhaps be turned to some little account 

 in preventive measures, by clearing those found to 

 foster it from the neighbourhood of where Orange trees 

 are grown in only small numbers, where they are 

 grown in plantations this point would perhaps not make 

 much difference. 



The female insect, when full grown, may be generally 

 described as an oval Scale, rather more than a twelfth of 

 an inch in length, dark brown in colour above, lighter 

 at the margin. It is considered to produce its young 

 alive, and as many as forty-five have been found under 

 one mother Scale. 



The male Scale, as far as I am aware, has not been 

 observed, or rather not so completely observed as to be 

 certainly identified ; but in the short paper on this 

 insect given by the late Matthew Cooke, he mentions 

 that in September, 1880, whilst preparing a mounting 

 of an example of Lecanium hesperidum for microscopic 

 use, an insect was observed coming from under a 

 specimen beneath the glass, which finally released itself 

 and proved to be a male Scale. I append part of the 

 description and Mr. Cooke's comment below.* 



* Description. " Colour : body immaculate golden-yellow ; eyes dark 

 or black ; antennae (from the peculiar position in which they are placed 

 I can only count seven joints) golden-yellow and hairy ; legs golden- 

 yellow. As it did not agree with the description of any of the male Scale 

 insects I had read of, or specimens of males of aurantii, perniciosus, 

 persete, rapax, rosece, or purchasi in my possession, I could only imagine 



