ENTOMOLOGY 53 



growth just pushing out. During summer the aphides for the most- 

 part are to be found on the roots, though a few may be found on the 

 foliage and shoots in badly infested orchards at almost any time dur- 

 ing the growing season. Below ground they occur more or less pro- 

 misculously on roots of all sizes, but the smaller and more tender 

 ones are preferred. Some of the aphides may retain their hold on 

 the roots after the trees are dug, and the insect is thus frequently 

 distributed on nursery stock. 



Heavy dressings of kainit, according to Dr. J. B. Smith, are 

 effectual in killing the aphides. The fertilizer should be anplied over 

 the ground covering the root area of the tree, preferably just before 

 a rain. Unleached wood ashes, from one-half to one bushel per tree, 

 is recommended by Pettit as being very effective. It is better to first 

 remove the soil over approximately the root area of the tree, replacing 

 it after the ashes have been applied. Ground tobacco dust may be 

 used in the same way. In all of these substances the insecticidal 

 properties leach out, coming in contact with the soft bodies of the 

 aphides on the roots and thus killing many of them. Aerial forms 

 may be killed by "Black Leaf" 1-60. (Year Book 1905, Dept. Agr., 

 "The Principal Insect Enemies of the Peach.") 



The West Indian Peach Scale. The female scale is 2 to 2.5 

 mm. or .08 to .10 inches in diameter, quite convex and usually gray~ 

 ish white in color. The scales are often inconspicuous from being 

 covered with a thin layer of the skin of the outer bark. Again they 

 stand out conspicuously white against the natural color of the plant 

 they infest, naked, glossy and smooth. 



The male scale is pure white, exuvia pale straw color. Length 

 1 to 1.5 mm. or .04 to .06 inches. The male scales cluster together 

 in dense chaffy patches, preferably on the lower parts of the branches 

 of young trees, and on the trunk near the ground giving the impres- 

 sion of a coat of whitewash at a distance from the tree. A scattering 

 male scale can generally be found here and there among the females. 

 The adult male is a minute, two-winged insect, bright red in color, 

 with darker head and pale legs. The treatment of orchards and rem- 

 edies advised in the control of the ,San Jose scale will be equally 

 effective in the control of this species. (Bui. 61 Fla. Exp. Sta. ; 

 1905 Year Book, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



The San Jose Scale. Under normal conditions the San Jose 

 scale can kill a young orchard in ihree years if the infestation is 

 brought in with the nursery stock. If it gets in later, the older trees 

 resist better and less injury is caused. Very old and rough-barked 

 trees sometimes resist perfectly and at the present time, the .scale has 

 lost some of the virulence of its early days. In no case, however, 

 should the presence of this scale be lightly esteemed in a peach or- 

 chard, for even a single favorable season of unrestricted breeding 

 may irretrievably injure its trees. (For a complete description and 

 remedial measures see page 32.) 



The Terrapin Scale.* The Terrapin Scale is one of the soft or 

 naked scales, the outer covering being a hardened portion of tlio 

 derm and not a wax secretion combined with cast skins, as is the case- 



' See page 645, for illustration. 



