INSECTS, DISEASES, AND INJURIES 



129 



When this scale is abundant, the growth of the leaves is 

 retarded, they turn reddish, die, and fall off. Infestations as 

 serious as this are ra£her uncommon, but it is not unusual to 

 find trees which have a distinctly grayish color due to the 

 presence of myriads of the scales. 



In cases in which the pine-leaf scale is 

 present in threatening numbers, it may be 

 held in check by spraying with nicotine 

 sulfate — one pint in one hundred gallons of 

 water in which four to five pounds of soap 

 have been dissolved. To be most effective, 

 the application should be made soon after the 

 eggs have hatched and before the young in- 

 sects have formed a protective scale. This 

 will be in May or early June. It has been 

 reported that good results can be obtained by 

 spraying with a miscible oil — one part in six- 

 teen parts of water — in the spring before the 

 buds have started. Care should be taken, 

 however, to do the spraying on a bright, sunny day when there 

 is no danger of freezing and thus avoid possible injury to 

 the foliage. 



The jyine sawfly {Lophyrus ahhottii, Leach and others). 



The larvae of several species of sawflies attack the foliage 

 of the pine. The most common species in the East is known 

 as Abbott's sawfly. The larvae, when full grown, are three- 

 fourth inch in length, yellowish-white in color, marked with 

 rows of rectangular black spots. The eggs seem to be laid 

 over an extended period so that larvae of different sizes may 

 be found at almost any time throughout the summer. Whole 

 trees may be defoliated, but it is more common to find the 



13. Pine-leaf scale 

 (Chionaspis 

 pinifolicB). 



