140 STATE po:mol()gical society. 



shed their skins and acquh'e wings. Soon attach themselves 

 and lay eggs for another brood. No males of Chermes have 

 ever been observed. The galls are persistent on the twigs giv- 

 ing the trees an unsightly appearance. 



Remedies — Whale oil soap, one pound to two gallons has 

 been successfully used. Should be applied in the spring to 

 destroy the young lice and eggs of the winter generation. 

 Hand picking the galls while the nymphs are in them and burn- 

 ing them would be effectual. 



Explanation of Plate — A ]:)ranch showing several deserted 

 galls. Somewhat reduced. The small white patches on the 

 terminal twig are two Qgg clusters of the winter brood with the 

 wooly covering over them. The photograph for the plate was 

 made by Mr. L. H. Merrill from a twig taken from Norway 

 spruce on the college campus. 



THE DESTRUCTIVE MEALY-BUG. 



Dactylopius destructor Comstock. This is the common Mealy 

 bug so abundant on house plants and in green houses, readily 

 detected by the mealy coating over the body. This is the only 

 species of Mealy bug we have seen in the university forcing 

 houses. The long spined Mealy bug may occur in the State. 



THE SAX JOSE SCALE. 



Aspidiotus pcrnisiosus Comstock. History — Origin not known. 

 Is found on plants from Australia, South America and Japan. 

 Introduced in California about 1870. First attracted attention 

 at San Jose in 1873, hence the name. It has spread to most of 

 the Western states, and in 1893 was detected by Mr. L. O. How- 

 ard from specimens found at Charlottesville, Va. Since then it 

 has been found in several of the Mississippi valley states and 

 the Atlantic coast states from Florida to Massachusetts. 



Food Plants — The insect is a general feeder having been 

 found on a great number of species belonging to eleven botani- 

 cal families. It is more particularly a pest of the plants of the 

 order Rosaceae attacking most of the common species grown for 

 fruit. 



Importance — It is regarded as the worst pest of the orchard 

 known. It multiplies rapidly. The females for six weeks give 



