INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS GROVES. 



513 



The Mealy Bug. (Dactylopius citri Risso). This 

 insect, with other closely allied species, is very common in 

 Florida. The adult female is from about 0.14 to 0.16 of 

 an inch (3.5 mm to 4 mm) in length, 0.08 of an inch in 

 width, and very flat. The color is dull brownish yellow, 



the legs and antennae agree- 

 ing with the body in color. 

 There are seventeen ap- 

 pendages on each side, and 

 most parts of the body are 

 more or less powdered with 

 particles lighter than the 

 ground color. The egg is 

 about .01 of an inch in 

 length, of long ellipsoidal 



Fig. 117. Mealy bug- (Dactylopius citri Risso) clustered 



at base of young lemon fruit above, on under side 



of pomelo leaf below. About natural size. 



form, and light yellow color. 



The eggs are' laid in a large cottony mass at the 

 posterior extremity of the abdomen, and require consid- 

 erable time to hatch. After hatching, the larvae exhibit 

 a marked tendency to settle along the midribs and veins 



18 



