1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 85 



Insects of the Year. 

 The past year has witnessed few serious insect attacks in 

 Massachusetts. Why this was the case is difficult to deter- 

 mine, though it is possible that weather conditions last s[)ring 

 were in a measure responsible. An early warm period, con- 

 tinuing long enough to produce some of the earlier changes 

 in insects from their winter conditions toward those of spring 

 was followed by a colder period, Avliich, coming after the 

 initial changes had been taken, caught the insects in a state 

 where they were unprepared for it, and may have caused the 

 death of so many as to reduce their numbers. How far this 

 explanation holds, however, cannot be determined. 



27^6 San Jose Scale. 



This most serious pest to fruit growers has been present 

 in Massachusetts a number of years. When it first made its 

 appearance in the State it was believed by many that it had 

 reached about its northern limit of distril)ution, and that its 

 injuries would not be likely to be serious on that account. 

 Time has shown, however, that this is not the case, and that 

 the scale can not only become a very serious pest here, but 

 that it can survive a temperature of thirty degrees below 

 zero. The past summer, perhaps because of its dryness, 

 has been distinctly favorable to the rapid increase of the 

 scale and to a correspondingly increased destructiveness. 

 As earl}' as July 19 currants were received at the station so 

 thoroughly covered by the young scales as to make them un- 

 salable, and during the fall apples and pears were received 

 ill a similar condition. Up to the present year it was not 

 known that fruit in Massachusetts could l)e so injured b}' the 

 scale as to prevent its sale, thougli fruit trees killed by it 

 were met with frequently. Now, however, the scale has 

 demonstrated its ability to attack the fruit itself in this lati- 

 tude, and this must call the attention of fruit raisers to the 

 necessity of giving the most careful attention to their trees, 

 if they desire to sell their products. 



The scale has now l)een received from thirty-seven dillcrent 

 towns in the State, and in all pr()b;i])ility it occurs in as 



