224 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



seems to possess a greater fondness for scale insects than our native species 

 and may, in the course of years, prove of some service in checking these 

 pests. 



A fungus disease, Sphaerostilba coccophila Tul., attacks this 

 pest, and in some localities it has killed a considerable number of the scales. 

 Prof. P. H. Rolfs credits this organism with practically exterminating the 

 pernicious scale in one Florida orchard and with reducing by considerable 



the numbers of the 

 nest in others. It is 



undoubtedly a nati\'e 

 of I'lorida, as it is very 

 common on C h r y- 

 s o m p h a 1 u s o b- 

 s c u r u s Comst. This 

 fungus was cultivated, 

 and new colonies of 

 scales infested, but un- 

 fortunately, like other 

 fungi it is very depend- 

 ent on favorable cli- 

 matic conditions, and 

 this limits its usefulness 

 ^ ^^. _ seriously. . Fungus-in- 

 """"^^ fested scales were sent 

 to other states, and the 

 disease was at least temporarily established in several places. After the 

 disease has consumed the insect, an orange colored protuberance forms at 

 the base of the scale or breaks through it, but, as this is only from '40 to 

 ys inch in hight, it is not very apparent. 



Remedial measures. This insect is very difficult to control because of 

 its exceeding prolificacy, its resistance to insecticides, and particularly because 

 of its extended breeding season. It is a sucking insect and since it draws 



Mg. 39 Chinese lady beetle. Latter stages: «-second larval stage; 6-, 

 of same; f-full grown larva; ./■-pupa within split larval skin; ,— newly 

 adult; /-same, fully colored; all enlarged to same scale. (After Maria 

 Dep't Agric. Year Book 1902) 



