488 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



bad that no nuts are gathered. At one time 

 it appeared as if all the trees would become 

 barren, as all the young palms become 

 smothered with the scale from the older in- 

 fested trees." 



This scale is known as the " Bourbon 

 Aspidiotus " in the West Indies, and it is 

 recorded in many of the islands out there. 



Urich, in " Preliminary Notes on some In- 

 sects Affecting the Coco-nut Palm," Trinidad, 

 1911, tells us that this scale is always associ- 

 ated with ants (Azteca chartifex, Forel), which, 

 being exceedingly fond of the honey-dew 

 secreted by the scales, protect and probably 

 propagate them on purpose to obtain a food 

 supply. He suggests getting rid of the ants- 

 by means of kerosene emulsion and thinks 

 that the scale insect may be left to its parasites. 



Froggatt remarks that although the members 

 of the Aspidiotus group of scales are usually 

 hard and horny, this particular species is 

 much thinner and lighter in texture than most 

 species, and is therefore much more readily 

 destroyed by unfavourable weather conditions 

 and by the attacks of parasites. It is also 

 much more amenable to treatment with spray- 

 ing or fumigation. 



