60 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



This Species was observed by us in 1908,^ though at that time 

 it was confused with the spruce gall aphid. It occasionally be- 

 comes exceedingly abundant as recorded by Mr B. N. Gates.^ 

 He found it so numerous on spruces at Amherst, Mass., that the 

 honeydew attracted swarms of bees, and these in turn called his 

 attention to the infestation. Mr A. T. Gillanders^ has observed 

 this insect very commonly on sickly Norway spruce in England, 

 especially those infested by the spruce gall aphid. This scale insect 

 is subject to attack by a number of parasites and only occasionally 

 becomes sufficiently abundant to cause material injury. 



Tulip tree scale (Toumeyella liriodendri Gmel.) . 

 This, the largest of our native scale insects, is confined to the 

 tulip tree and occasionally becomes very abundant and injurious 

 in the vicinity of New York City. Several complaints concerning 

 this insect were received during the past season and our attention 

 has been frequently called to the pest in earlier years. 



This insect winters in New York State in a partly grown con- 

 dition, the young being from one-quarter to one-half full size, 

 closely attached to the branches, usually on the under side. They 

 have a very dark brown, almost black color, and on that account 

 generally escape attention. Observations the past season show that 

 the young begin to appear at Flushing August i6th, while specimens 

 received September 4th from Tarrytown showed some young estab- 

 lished, others crawling and many still issuing. This latter process 

 evidently continues till the latter part of September. The full- 

 grown females may be observed in August. They measure about 

 one-third of an inch in diameter, are very convex and light brown 

 in color. Badly infested trees have the leaves smeared with honey- 

 dew excreted by the insects ; the sooty mold developing therein dis- 

 colors the foliage below. There is also a rather characteristic 

 sourish odor about badly infested trees or twigs. 



One of the easiest methods of keeping this pest in check on small 

 trees is by scraping off the scales or brushing them from the under 

 side of the branches with a stiff brush, about the middle of August 

 or even a little earlier. Thorough spraying of infested trees in 

 the spring with a kerosene emulsion, the standard formula diluted 

 with 4 parts of water is a very effective treatment. Spray as late 

 as practicable since the insects are presumably more susceptible then. 



^ N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 134, p. 55. 

 ^ 1909 Econ. Ent. Jour. 2 -.466-67. 



^ 1908 Forest Entomology, p. 228-29. 



