20 BULLETIN 134, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUBE. 



THE COTTONY CUSHION SCALE. 

 leery a purchasi Mask. 

 DISTRIBUTION AND INJURY. 



The cottony cushion scale was observed at Acireale, Messina, and 

 Bagheria in Sicily. It was not seen elsewhere in Italy, except at 

 Portici, and was not observed anywhere in Spain. It is of recent 

 introduction in Sicily (five or six years ago) and is supposed to have 

 come from North America or Portugal. A severe infestation occurred 

 at the places mentioned in Sicily as observed in April. Several trees 

 were killed and cut down afc Bagheria. (PL V, fig. 2.) Novius 

 cardinalis was seen at work at Messina and Acireale, but after per- 

 sistent search none could be found at Bagheria despite the fact that 

 the beetle had been liberated by Dr. Savastano in February. Dr. 

 Savastano was informed of this fact, and another colony was promptly 

 liberated. When the place was again visited in August it was 

 gratifying to see that apparently the entire infestation was com- 

 pletely checked by the work of the beetle. The owner of the grove, 

 who in May despaired of saving any of the trees, in August was 

 elated and believed it little short of miraculous that he could be 

 freed of the pest in such a short time. This infestation was so com- 

 pletely cleaned up that Novius had disappeared for lack of food, and 

 no trace of the beetles could be found in August. These same con- 

 ditions have been observed in California; the beetles, upon eating 

 all of the scales by midsummer, would themselves disappear, reap- 

 pearing, however, in the following spring. The few young scales 

 that escaped the beetle the year previous would multiply to such an 

 extent that a heavy infestation occurred by the following spring and 

 would thus furnish food for the returning beetles wherever they 

 came from. These circumstances were observed for four successive 

 seasons in a particular grove in California, where the trees were 

 finally cub back. It is hoped that these same circumstances will not 

 prevail at Bagheria. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



From 500 to 800 eggs are deposited in the large fluted cottony 

 mass which is secreted for this purpose. The eggs hatch in from 10 

 days to 3 weeks, depending upon the temperature. The young 

 larvae settle on the leaves and tender twigs largely, but later nearly 

 all those on the leaves migrate to the twigs and branches, adults 

 being found even on the tree trunk. The time required for develop- 

 ment varies considerably under the same conditions and may range 

 from three to four or five months. The great majority of eggs and 

 young appear during May and June. 



