MEALY BUGS. 



245 



experiments show that spraying with rosin wash checks the insect and 

 is profitable. 



The Green Bug is less widely scattered but appears to be spreading 

 from the Pulny Hills into the Nilgiris and will probably reach other 

 districts. Both of these insects infest the twigs, sucking out the juice 

 and gradually or quickly killing the plant. The Coffee Mealy Bug 

 in Coorg infests the roots, specially of young plants. Experiments show 

 that treatment with lime and sulphur, aided by an occasional applica- 

 tion of insecticide, 

 keeps this pest in 

 check. Elsewhere it 

 attacks a variety of 

 plants, mostly garden 

 plants. 



The shade trees of 

 coffee in Mysore are 

 infested by the Green 

 Mealy Scale,* which 

 attacks certain trees 

 and destroys the 

 foliage. The black 

 blight produced by 

 this and allied spe- 

 cies on coffee shade 

 trees injures the 

 coffee and is one of 

 the worst features of 

 this pest. 



FIG. 295. 

 The Tea Mealy Buy. 



Another destructive species is the Red Spotted Scale, 2 a dark- 

 coloured scale with a reddish centre ; this attacks palms and is injurious 

 to the betel palm. Sugarcane is attacked by three species, 3 the mealy 

 bug of cane alone being widespread. It is most easily checked by care 

 in the selection of only clean setts for planting. 



Cotton is attacked by a mealy bug which lives in the top 

 leaves of each shoot and causes the shoot to twist and form a gall ; 

 it attacks only certain indigenous varieties and is known only in Behar. 

 Plucking the affected shoots is the simple and radical treatment for 

 this pest. 



1 Pnhiinaria psirfii. Mask. | 2 Aspidiotvs jicus. Aslim. 



3 Dactyl op ins snrcliari. Clcll. (Cane Mealy 

 Ripersia. sacohari. Gr. 



