SCALE INSECTS OF IMPORTANCE 299 



nus mytilaspidis, which he found had destroyed from about 50% 

 to 60% of the scales. Aphelinus fuscipennis How. is recorded 

 as a most efficient parasite of this scale in California. Aspidiotipha- 

 gus citrinus Craw, has been reared from this pest in that state. The 

 accompanying figure will give a good idea of the appearance of these 

 tiny Chalcids. The best evidence of their work is the small circular 

 holes in the dead scales, orifices by which these little friends have escaped. 

 Aphelinus abnormis How. is another parasite of this bark louse. 

 Anaphes gracilis How. and Chiloneurus diaspidin- 

 arum How. have also been reared from this insect. 



Fig. 1 Aspi diotipliagus citrinus Craw., greatly enlarged (After Howard. Insect 

 life. 1894, 6 : 229) 



Coccinellid or lady bug larvae prey on this species, and certain mites, 

 Tyroglyphus malus Shimer, are also credited with this habit. A 

 French investigator has apparently shown that this Tyroglyphus 

 does not feed on the eggs, but a species is described, under the name of 

 Hemisarcoptes coccisugus Lign., which does vahant service 

 in destroying them. 



Three European birds, the blue tit, the long-tailed tit and the tree 

 creeper are known to feed on this insect. 



Remedies. The hatching of the young the latter part of May or in 

 early June renders it practicable to control this insect by applying a con- 

 tact insecticide June i or later in order to kill the young scale insects 

 before they are protected by a thick scale. 



BibliograpJiy 

 Fitch, Asa. N. Y. state agric. soc. Trans. 1S54. 14: 735-42 (gen- 

 eral account of injuries and distribution, as A s p i tl i o t u s c o n c h i - 



