CHERMES OF MAINE CONIFERS. 287 



of the lobes; metathorax with a median area of two groups 

 corresponding to the median rows of the abdomen; abdomen 

 with median area in two groups (or frequently merging) on 

 segments 1-7, and a lateral group on segments 1-9 (merged on 

 the ninth). In addition to these there occurs between the 

 lateral and median groups on segments 1-4 a very small group 

 of two or three pores usually separate from the median pores, 

 but sometimes merged with them. Most, if not all, of these 

 wax pores would easily be overlooked and the fact that this 

 species has its abdomen only "slightly covered with fine cottony 

 down" indicates that the glands are not so functionally active 

 as those of other species. 



Remedial Measures. There would seem to be no practical 

 method of combatting this insect in forest growth. With orna- 

 mental trees, however, the galls could be removed from the 

 black spruce previous to the emerging of the winged form. 

 Also if the species proves constantly troublesome it might be 

 desirable not to plant the white pine in the vicinity of black 

 spruce and -vice -versa. 



Spraying with whale-oil soap (i pound to 2 gallons of water), 

 would probably destroy the young on the white pine shoots, 

 but it is doubtful that this would be usually worth while in 

 Maine where Syrphus flies abound. The larvae of these, little 

 light colored maggots, have been found to feed industriously 

 on the young Chermes. So numerous are these beneficial mag- 

 gots at times in the midst of the white waxy secretion of the 

 Chermes that they are sometimes mistaken by people sub- 

 mitting them for determination as the cause of the trouble. 



Note : The foregoing evidence will make it clear enough that Shimer 

 was in error in considering the winged specimens which he reared from 

 pinicorticis to be pinifolice. That Shimer found winged pinicorticis 

 "very plentifully" on the pine leaves would be natural enough for at 

 the time of emergence the winged forms are sometimes abundant on all 

 parts of the tree. I have seen them in considerable numbers resting on 

 pine needles apparently just before flight, but never fixed as described 

 by Fitch as characteristic of pinifolia. Observers of pinicorticis have 

 accepted Shimer's conclusions that his Chermes .025 inches long which 

 he bred from pupal pinicorticis was the same as pinifolia described as 

 .08 inches long, in spite of the fact that they have had to contradict 

 Fitch's explicit observations in regard to the very characteristic habits 

 of pinifolice. With the meagre descriptions of the early aphid records 

 many such mistakes are scarcely avoidable, in absence of the species 



