No. 4.] SAN JOSE SCALE. 295 



THE SAN JOSE SCALE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



in A. H. KIKKLAND, M.S., ASSISTANT ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The presence of the San Jose scale in Massachusetts was 

 first recorded by Prof. C. H. Fernald, entomologist to the 

 Board, in the Massachusetts Crop Report for August, 1895. 

 The insect had then been found colonized in five localities in 

 the State. At the present writing thirteen localities are 

 known to be infested, and from the recent rapid increase of 

 the known occurrences of the insect it is evident that we are 

 just beginning to realize the extent to which this pest has 

 been disseminated throughout the Commonwealth. During 

 the past three years the writer has had opportunities to 

 become familiar with several colonies of the scale in eastern 

 Massachusetts, and, at the request of Secretary Wm. K. Ses- 

 sions, has attempted to combine the notes thus made, sup- 

 plementing them with extracts from the writings of others, 

 particularly in those portions relating to the life history of 

 the insect and remedies available for treating infested trees. 

 It should be stated at the outset that the study of this 

 important insect has received the attention of our leading 

 economic entomologists ; and, as a result of the careful w r ork 

 of Messrs. Howard, Marlatt, Smith, Webster and others, we 

 may now easily obtain an accurate knowledge of the history 

 and habits of the insect, its means and routes of distribution 

 and the remedies best adapted to destroy it. Entomologists 

 are especially indebted to Dr. Howard aud his assistants for 

 the exact information concerning the life history of the scale, 

 as published in Bulletin 3, New Series, Division of En- 

 tomology, 1896, a work that has been the basis of the 

 majority of the treatises on the subject appearing since that 

 date. 



