244 



THE AMERICAN A PIC UL TUB IS T. 



If these spring lice are examined 

 closely with a low magnifying 

 power, a marginal row of hairs 

 will be seen. 



Some few of the scales in late 

 July will be noticed to be dimmer, 

 lighter in color, and somewhat 

 more convex above. In these the 

 setge do not disappear, but may be 

 seen projecting from the posterior 

 end of the scale. In August, the 

 mature males appear. These have 

 the scales, have two wings, and 

 are very active. Although the 

 females are to continue to grow till 

 the next June, coition now takes 

 place. The males are seen for two 

 or three weeks, though probably 

 each individual does not live as 

 many days. It is quite probable 

 that, as in case of production of 

 drone-bees and aphides, the males 

 of these scale-lice are not absolute- 

 ly necessary to reproduction. We 

 know they are not in some species. 



By use of a long-handled broom 

 dipped in strong lye or soapsuds, 

 the thickly gathered lice could be 

 readily removed on the lower side 

 of the branches at any time in the 

 spring. This would kill the lice, 

 and prevent egg-laying, or destroy 

 the eggs already laid. The earlier 

 this is done in the spring the better. 

 The position of the lice on the under 

 side of the branches makes this 

 more practicable, if not the only 

 practicable remedy at this season. 

 On a few trees, or on small trees, 

 this is no serious task. If this is 

 neglected, or is thought to be too 

 great a task, the trees may be 

 syringed in early July, just when 

 the young lice are most susceptible, 



with the following : one quart soft 

 soap, ten quarts water, and one 

 quart kerosene oil ; stir all well to- 

 gether. This can be thrown on with 

 a fountain pump. As the lice are 

 mostly on the lower side of the 

 leaves, it should be thrown from be- 

 low upward. This also applies to 

 other species of bark-lice, which are 

 also very common this season. The 

 basswood, the tulip (see my Manu- 

 al, p. 249), the elm, the hickor}^, 

 the blue-ash, etc., are all suffering 

 from bark-lice, much like the above 

 only that the cottony substance is 

 wanting. It is a comforting truth, 

 that all these species are often des- 

 troj'ed by their enemies before they 

 entirely kill our trees, though they 

 often do great harm. 

 Lansing, Mick. 



LOOKING FOR EGGS. 



By John Phin. 



The presence or absence of eggs 

 and the extent and mode of their 

 distribution are sources of very 

 valuable information in regard to 

 the condition of a colon)'. There- 

 fore any method, which will enable 

 us to see the eggs more clearly and 

 certainly, is of value. Those whose 

 sight is not very keen will derive 

 great aid from the use of a simple 

 lens or magnifier of about 2^ in. to 

 3 in. focus. But even those whose 

 sight is good often find it difficult 

 to distinguish the eggs at the bot- 

 tom of the cells. In most cases it 

 will be found that the chief cause of 



