34 BULLETIN 647, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the various predators to the same extent as are the others mentioned 

 above, or there may be some relation between it and its favorite food 

 plant which makes this insect distasteful to these predators. 1 



INFLUENCE OF THE ANT ON ABUNDANCE OF THE FLUTED SCALE IN LOUISIANA. 



The fluted or cottony cushion scale {leery a purchasi Mask.) ranks 

 second only to the mealybugs as to preference by the Argentine ant,, 

 owing, as with the mealybugs, to the large amount of viscid excre- 

 tion given off by the insect. In spite of heavy attendance by the ant, 

 however, the fluted scale has not been able to thrive and become 

 abundant in Louisiana, except during the last season in New Orleans. 

 This scale is believed by some, as previously stated, to have occurred 

 on Metairie Kidge and in various places in New Orleans prior to 

 the destructive freeze of 1895. Whether this is true or whether the 

 insect has been imported into Louisiana only in very recent years is 

 not certain. At all events the insect did not come to attention in the 

 State until the fall of 1912. when it was found by the State in- 

 spector. 2 During the years 1913 to 1915, inclusive, closer attention 

 was paid to the insect, and it was found at various places in New 

 Orleans. Still it did not occur in the orange groves, and the infesta- 

 tions in and about the city were very scattering. Whenever they 

 occurred in some numbers on a plant, they were viewed with such 

 apprehension that extermination was attempted. It was, therefore, 

 impossible to get a sufficient infestation under suitable conditions for 

 experiments to determine the influence of the ant on their increase. 

 During the summer of 1916. judging from reports received from New 

 Orleans, the fluted scale spread more rapidly and became more 

 numerous about the city than at any previous time, but the exact part 

 played in this increase by the ant is not known. 



INFLUENCE OF THE ANT ON THE FLUTED SCALE IN CALIFORNIA. 



The status of the fluted scale in California in recent years is given 

 by Quayle, 3 who states that the infestations become as bad at times 

 in some localities as when at their height in earlier years. As a rule, 

 however, the insect does not become numerous enough to be con- 

 sidered of economic importance. 



No citrus orchards or trees could be found sufficiently infested 

 with the fluted scale in southern California to serve for any adequate 

 tests as to the influence of the Argentine ant. The scale occurred 



1 A condition such as this apparently occurs in the case of the fluted scale on Spanish 

 broom in Ventura County, 'Cal. 



1 Tucker, E. S. Suppression of the Cottony Cushion Scale in Louisiana. La. Agr. Exp.. 

 Sta. Bui. 145. 1914 



3 Quayle, H. J. Citrus Fiuit Insects. Cal. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 214, p. 470. 1911. 



