86 FRUIT TREES AND THEIR ENEMIES 



Brown Scale {Lecaniuni persicce). — This brown 

 scale-insect occurs on peaches and nectarines. 



Remedies. — The same as those for mussel scale 

 on apples (p. 72). 



Pears 



Pear Gnat Midge {^Diplosis pyrivord). — An attack of 

 this is generally recognised by the pears, when of the 

 size of small marbles, being distorted, often assuming a 

 rounded shape, and, a little later, becoming blackened, 

 and then falling. On examination they will be found 

 to be rotten inside, and to contain many maggots of 

 a dull white colour, one-sixth of an inch long, which 

 have the property of "skipping" like cheese maggots. 

 The maggots usually escape from the fruitlets 

 while still on the trees, and bury themselves in the 

 surface soil ; about midsummer they spin cocoons, 

 from which the small gnat-like black flies emerge in the 

 following spring, to lay their eggs in the blossoms, 

 usually before these open. 



Remedies. — Collect and destroy all infected fruitlets 

 on the trees, if possible. A top dressing of kainit 

 (half a ton to the acre) in late summer is stated to 

 produce good results. The pest may, apparently, be 

 stamped out by keeping poultry or pigs in the infested 

 plantations. 



Pear Leaf-blister Mite {Eriophyes pyri). — This is a 

 minute mite, like the black currant mite, but larger, 

 being 0*2 mm., or y.-th of an inch, in length, whose 

 presence is recognised by the leaves becoming covered 



