APRICOT PESTS 



551 



Fig. 1. Termvf! Iticifittitts Rossi. Working on' 

 Roots of Nectarine Tree. (Original.) 



ing a yellowish or brownish cast. The 

 head is darker yellow and mandibles 

 brown. The soldier ants have large brown 

 heads, comprising at least one-third ot 

 their entire bodies. The queen ant is 

 much larger than the other forms, while 

 the males are small. It is claimed that 

 there are no less than 15 kinds of in- 

 dividuals in this species. 



Life History 



These termites usually live in dead or 

 decaying wood but often work into the 

 living and growing tissues. They make 

 very extensive galleries through all parts 

 and thus often destroy buildings, 

 fences, etc., as well as fruit trees. The 

 queen gives rise to all the young, which 

 appear in great numbers, especially dur- 

 ing the summer months. In the fall or 

 autumn winged or migratory forms ap- 

 pear and often fly by thousands on dark 

 days and towards evening. In habits and 

 life history they greatly resemble true 

 ants and bees. 



General. 



Disfribntioii 



Food Plants 



As previously stated, these termites 

 usually work upon dead or decaying 

 wood, but then usually only in the pres- 

 ence of moisture. These insects often be- 

 come destructive to fruit trees, working 

 upon the roots underground and making 

 galleries up the trunk. No doubt they 

 usually begin to work in the decaying 

 tissues but often continue into the 



healthy portions of the tree. Nectarines, 

 peaches and apricots seem to suffer most, 

 while citrus and other trees and plants 

 are also attacked. 



Control 



Due to their secluded work the damage 

 is usually done before their presence is 

 known and too late to effect a remedy. 

 However, if close observations are made 

 in infested districts and their work dis- 

 covered the colony may be almost entirely 

 exterminated by the use of a liberal dose 

 of carbon bisulfid applied in cotton or a 

 sponge directly within their burrows or 

 under the base of the tree. 



E. O. EssiG 



Brown Apuicot Scale (Eulecanium 

 armeniacum Craw.) (Lecanium comi 

 Bouche). See European Fruit Scale un- 

 der Apple. 



C.\XKER WoKMS. See under Apple. 



EuROPE.AX Fruit Scale. See under 

 Apple. 



Fifr. ]. Imraatui'e Specimens of the Frosted 

 Scale on Loganberr.T Cane. (OriBinal. ) 



