IN CALIFORNIA 155 



ANTS AND PLANT LICE 



Plant lice are familiar objects to all. The general 

 farmer and the casual observer of these creatures 

 on cabbage and other vegetable crops simply recog- 

 nizes them as lice, but to the florist they are better 

 known under the names of green fly and aphis. An 

 interesting fact in regard to them is that most com- 

 mon species exude from two tubes near the ends of 

 the abdominal segments a transparent fluid having a 

 sweetish taste. It is frequently excreted in great 

 quantity, and this is the secret of the attraction of 

 ants to these creatures. The liquid is known as 

 honey-dew, and it attracts, besides ants, wasps, bees, 

 flies and some other insects. 



PLANT LICE, GREEN FLY, OR APHIS 



Fifty-eight persons competed for a prize offered at 

 Frankfort, Germany, for the best method of de- 

 stroying plant lice. The winner's preparation is as 

 follows : Quassia wood, two and one-half pounds, to 

 be soaked overnight in ten quarts of water and well 

 boiled, then strained through a cloth and placed, with 

 100 quarts of water, in a petroleum barrel with five 

 pounds of soft soap ; to be used as a spray. 



In wet or cool weather they are hard to extermi- 

 nate, but during hot days the fumes of both sulphur 

 and of tobacco dust will sufficiently keep the pests in 

 check. Sprinkle both over the damp foliage, spar- 

 ingly but evenly, in the morning of what promises to 

 be a hot day. The sulphur fumes also destroy the 

 fungus known as mildew. 



One way to get rid of plant lice is to use tobacco 

 water made by pouring boiling water over tobacco 

 stems, or by boiling the stems. After cooling pour 

 off the liquid and add more water. This tobacco tea 



