36 



the husk like collar about the stem, and in these places are almost 

 impossible to remove or kill by sprays. If left on packed or cur- 

 ing fruit they continue to breed and eat and grow until the whole 

 package is infested. Many come to our ports on pineapples from 

 Hawaii after a voyage of some length, proving their tenacity of life. 



They secrete a honey-dew, and the smut produced thereby with 

 the masses of cottony material on the tree and fruit, have a very 

 repulsive appearance. The growth of the tree is not materially 

 checked unless the infestation is very bad, but the sale of the fruit 

 is much injured, and ruined if bad, as it is impossible to clean it 

 all, and the severe washing causes decay and loss. 



The ants are sure to accompany the bugs, but as in the case 

 of the Black Scale, they never injure them, but undoubtedly carry 

 the young from place to place and aid in their spread. 



In some localities spraying seems to have given as good re- 

 sults as anything, and at lower cost than fumigation, but our ex- 

 perience leads us to believe that fumigation is the best, all things 

 considered. Spraying can never eradicate the insect, only control 

 it, and if repeated as often as necessary for good results, it is as 

 expensive as fumigation, and we believe that if the latter is per- 

 sisted in, they can be eradicated. 



The Long-tailed Mealy Bug has habits of life very much like 

 the Citrus Mealy Bug, and it is often found on citrus trees, but 

 will infest nearly every kind of plant if one of its favorites is in 

 the neighborhood. One of the greatest of these favorites is the 

 Dracaena Palm, often called the Yucca Palm. The crown of 

 pointed leaves at the top is very often alive with the bugs, and 

 some can be found on almost all. The magnolia also has them, 

 but not so badly, also the papyrus and the umbrella plant, and 

 similar ornamental plants. 



The Cypress Mealy Bug lives only on the cypress trees, either 

 in hedges or growing singly, and is of little importance compar- 

 atively. 



On trees and plants other than the citrus, spraying is probably 

 our only resource, and the distillate emulsion and the carbolic acid 

 spray we consider the best. Each has its advocates in different 

 localities. 



