THE COTTONY GRASS SCALE. 



Eriopeltis festuccB (Fonsc). 



Edith M. Patch, 



Economic Significance. — Until recently the cottony grass 

 scale has not seemed to merit treatment from the economic 

 standpoint, for the experience of this insect since it was first 

 observed in America had led to the conclusion that it would be 

 an intermittent thing very quickly brought under control by 

 natural agencies. 



During the summer of 1904, however, considerable consterna- 

 tion was caused in several localities in Maine by the presence of 

 the egg sacs of this scale in enormous numbers. From Sedg- 

 wick and all along the Eggemoggin Reach; from the vicinity 

 of Portland, especially at Gorham and Stroudwater; from 

 Dresden and from Manchester, came persistent and alarmed 

 reports. " My mowing lands look as though scattered with 

 swollen rice grains," "A strange fungus has destroyed large 

 plots in my grass lands," "The hay fields look as if a slight 

 shower of snow pellets had fallen over them," were among the 

 descriptive comments. 



This infestation doubtless was not so sudden as it seemed. 

 The scale is inconspicuous until the egg sac is secreted, thus for 

 most of its Hfe only a careful search would reveal its presence. 

 The egg sacs themselves are only about one-fourth of an inch 

 in length and these could be scattered along fence and road 

 ways, over uncut grass near streams, unnoticed for years, and 

 in view of the fact that comparatively few people are keen 

 observers of little things not in their special line of interest, the 

 statements that "we have never seen anything like this before," 

 do not necessarily signify that the creatures have not been breed- 

 ing within stone's throw for 40 years. However, the cottony 

 grass scale is admirably fitted for rapid increase as the enormous 



