256 



PESTS OF ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUITS 



insect in three years. Apple and pear trees, and various ornamental 

 shrubs, usually manage to exist for some time longer. 



If a hand lens is used for closer examination, it will be found that 

 each scale is circular in shape, rather flat, dark in color, and has in its 



center a small raised spot, like a 

 nipple, surrounded by a slight de- 

 pression. Smaller, oval scales 

 represent the males. 



There are several generations 

 each season. The species lives 

 through the winter as half-grown 

 females. With the coming of 

 warm weather these complete 

 their growth, the tiny winged 

 males appear, and in a few days 

 each female begins giving birth 

 to exceedingly small, living young. 

 The latter crawl about over the 

 bark for a few hours, then settle 

 down, insert their sucking beaks, 

 and soon are covered with a pro- 

 tecting wax scale. They do not move thereafter. The total prog- 

 eny of a single female in one season is enormous. 



The insect is especially likely to be introduced on nursery stock, 

 and the greatest care should be taken in the purchase of trees for an 

 orchard. If stock has been properly fumigated with hydrocyanic 

 acid gas, the scales will be killed. 



Treatment of trees or shrubs consists of spraying in the dormant 

 season with lime-sulphur solution. The best time of application is in 

 the spring, just before the buds swell. Where the infestation is severe, 

 it is well to spray in the fall, after the leaves have dropped, and again 

 in the spring. 



For small shrubs, and the like, if it is not desired to use the lime- 

 sulphur spray, a solution of whale-oil soap, 2 pounds to 1 gallon of 

 water, may be applied in winter. The potash soap should be used. 



Fig. 348. 



-Work of San Jose Scale on 

 pear. Original. 



