498 



Apjjendix. 



" For the purpose of identification it will^ be necessary briefly to 

 describe the salient characters of the female, which alone affords us 

 the means by which we can sepai'ate ib from the numerous allied species 

 belonging to the same sub-family." 



" The covering scale of the male is pure white, narrowly elongated, 

 and much smaller than that of the female. Within this covering, which 

 somewhat resembles the finger of a glove, the insect undergoes its trans- 

 formation, appearing in due season as a very tiny two-winged fly having 

 an orange coloured body." The male scales are often densely massed on 

 the branches together and make them look as if whitewashed. 



Lounsbury (5) describes the female scale as being nearly circular, with 

 an orange-yellow spot midway between the centre of the scale and the 

 front margin, and says that old scales and those fully exposed are quite 

 grey, but on the fruit, and when sheltered 

 by the buds, the colour is almost white. 

 The situation makes some diflPerence in the 

 rotundity of the scale and in its form. 



As no one but the specialist can identify 

 these scale insects, it would be best if the grower 

 is in doubt to send them to Mr. Newstead at 

 the University, Liverpool, or to myself. The 

 female scales remain long on the trees after 

 death. The female insect under the scale is 

 pink. About 150 eggs are laid by each female. 

 The young are j^ink, and then become covei'ed 

 with a coat of loose white waxen woolly 

 threads. There may be three generations per 

 annum in America, as many as four at the 

 Cape, 

 reddish discoloration around the scales when on 



X 





^'^. 





i^^ 



[F. Edemlen. 

 FIG. Z'l'i.—Dias'pis peatayona 9- 

 .lamaica (Geranium). 

 (Greatly enlarsed.' 



th 



Lounsbury describes 

 i fruit. In South Europe it is a great pest on the mulberry. 



Treatment. 

 If it occurs in this country again, the best plan is to fumigate the 

 stock at once with hydrocyanic acid gas or burn it. It is an extremely 

 difficult insect to destroy. Resin wash and lime, salt and sulphur washes 

 appear to do most good as spray fluids. 



Natural Enemies. 

 Numerous ladybird beetles feed on this scale insect in different 

 countries. At the Cape a Two-spotted Ladybird (Chilocorus distigma, 

 Klug) and its larvae seem to do some good. A Chalcid Ely (Aspidioto- 

 2)hagus citrinus, Craw) also infests the scale in Cape Colony. 



