MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. II 



Fig. 4. a, female, scale removed; b, cluster of scales; c, female 

 scale; all greatly enlarged. (After Felt.) 



The female scale is circular in outline, grayish or blackish 

 in color, and when examined under a lens will be seen to be 

 somewhat raised above the bark especially in the center where 

 there is a little prominence. When the scale is somewhat rubbed 

 the center portion appears yellowish, around which the con- 

 centric circles, representing lines of growth, may be seen (fig. 

 4, c). The full grown male scale is elongated, the prominence 

 near one end and the lines of formation eccentric instead of 

 concentric. If the scale be lifted by means of a needle, there 

 will be seen a little yellowish body ; the insect proper (fig. 4, a). 

 The newly born insect of both sexes possess eyes, legs, antennae 

 and mouth parts, and crawl about for a few hours upon twigs. 

 When a suitable place is found they settle, insert their long 

 beaks through the bark and begin to suck the plant juice. The 

 scale begins to form even before the young insect becomes 

 fixed, and is at first pale grayish yellow, gradually becoming 

 darker, the central. projection usually remaining lighter colored. 

 The insect under the scale now loses legs and antennae, the 

 female also losing her eyes. Later the male scale assumes an 

 elongate oval shape, and later still, 3 or 4 weeks after birth, it 

 again undergoes a transformation and appears as a mature insect 

 with legs, antennas, eyes and wings. The female matures in 

 5 or 6 weeks, remaining fixed in position under the scale, leg- 

 less and wingless. There are several generations each season. 



REMEDIES. 



While there are a number of insect parasites which are natural 

 enemies of the scale, chief reliance must be placed upon fumi- 

 gation and spraying early in the spring before growth begins 

 or in autumn after the leaves fall to keep it under control. 



