METHODS OF APPLYING THE INSECTICIDES. 63 



down. And when tender plants have been treated, 

 follow the application next day with a thorough 

 syringing with cold water. 



Unless you are thoroughly acquainted with the in- 

 secticide intended for use, test it upon a part of the 

 infested plant or plants and watch the result. 



TREATMENT FOR ROOT-FEEDING SPECIES. 



It is only quite recently that root-feeding Coccids 

 have proved injurious to plant life in this country. 

 In February, 1895, a minute species of mealy bug 

 (Eipersia terrestris, Newstead) was discovered near 

 London on roots of stephanotis.* The following year 

 I also received the same species from Mr. C. 0. Water- 

 house (Brit. Museum Nat. Hist.) on palm roots, but 

 from the comparatively few examples which attacked 

 the plants in question I did not consider the species 

 caused material injury to the plants. Quite recently, 

 however, Mr. F. W. Burbidge called my attention to 

 the species attacking the roots of warm greenhouse 

 ferns in co. Kildare, Ireland, causing the foliage to 

 turn brown and look as if the plants had been dried 

 too much at the roots ; and in specimens kindly sup- 

 plied by Mr. F. Bedford I must admit the insects had 

 caused considerable injury to the plants. I cannot, 

 for obvious reasons, here describe the insect more than 

 to say that it lives chiefly upon the terminal or outside 

 roots of the pot plants, where it secretes or spins 

 patches of pure white fibrous wax similar to that 

 made by the common mealy bugs, but less compact. 

 In these retreats the insects live and lay their eggs. 



The origin of this pest remains to be discovered. 

 In all probability it is an indigenous species, and may 

 have been introduced in the potting material. But as 

 the insect has not been met with outside it may have 

 been introduced on the roots of imported plants. 



* Entomologist's Mo, Mag., S.S., vol. vi, pp. 213, 214, figs. 1 5. 



