134 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



Fla. , to be investigating orange insects, I sought his 

 co-operation. He found the insect new to ento- 

 mologists, but belonging to the order Acarina, and 

 family Phytoptidae. Mr. Ashmead gave to the insect 

 the name Phytoptus oleivorous, or oil-eating. He 

 has given a very interesting chapter on the subject 

 in his pamphlet on " Orange Insects." The wri- 

 ter, during the two summers last past, has tried 

 a number of experiments, hoping to find a destroy- 

 er of the insect and a preventive of rust. He 

 found a strong decoction of tobacco with whale-oil 

 soap, one pound to ten gallons of the decoction, 

 the most effective. This decoction was applied by 

 means of a pump, forcing the liquid through a rose 

 nozzle and drenching the foliage and fruit. The 

 application should be made monthly during May, 

 June, and July, as there are monthly generations 

 of the insect. The present year I found them at- 

 tached to the fruit as late as October. When there 

 is no fruit on the trees the insects attach them- 

 selves to the leaves. Lime, sown broadcast when 

 foliage is damp, is beneficial. 



The insect is microscopic, and only discoverable 

 with the unaided eye when they are in great abun- 

 dance upon the fruit or leaves. Then the fruit and 

 leaves have the appearance of having been slightly 

 dusted with the finest flour. I copy description 

 from Mr. Ashmead' s work : " Whitish flesh-color, 

 elongated ; gradually increasing in size near the head 

 it becomes twice as thick as posteriorly ; abdomen 



