REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I915 'J'J 



bright red color, the black tip of the beak and its smooth body, 

 while the young lined red bug is a grayish or slaty reddish brown, 

 ornamented with numerous short, black hairs. 



An application just before the blossoms opened, using one pint 

 of tobacco extract, 40 per cent nicotine to 100 gallons of water, 

 together with a lime-sulphur wash i to, 25 and the usual am.ount 

 of arsenate of lead, resulted in killing m.any of the sm.all red bugs 

 as well as protecting the trees from fungous infection and early leaf 

 feeders. An examination of the trees sprayed in this manner showed 

 a relatively much greater freedom from infestation than was secured 

 in 1 9 14 by nicotine applications after the blossoms had dropped. 

 Observations the latter part of June showed that the earlier con- 

 clusions were by no means erroneous, since there was a gratifying 

 freedom from infestation except in the case of a few trees which did 

 not receive a nicotine application just prior to blossoming. These 

 latter showed perceptibly more injury by red bugs. 



The experience of the past season has dem.onstrated the advisa- 

 bility of watching closely for the appearance of red bugs and spray- 

 ing early so as to destroy the insects before they have attained 

 any size. In this connection the earlier signs of damage are of 

 considerable importance and are indicated by an indistinct reddish 

 brown spotting of the more tender opening or recently unfolding 

 leaves. This discoloration has been compared to the appearance 

 presented after a light dusting with red pepper. It is usually easy 

 to find the sm.all red bugs, only one twenty-fifth of an inch or so in 

 length at this time, near the leaves showing the first signs of attack. 

 As the injured leaves age the discoloration becomes somewhat 

 darker and after a time the central portion of the more seriously 

 affected tissues may die and drop, leaving an irregular series of 

 reddish, brown-margined holes in the somewhat crumpled, curled 

 leaves, very characteristic signs of earlier injury. 



The earliest evidence of injury to the small apple is a slight exuda- 

 tion accompanied by a local discoloration and hardening. The young 

 fruit is frequently pierced to the core and as growth continues, 

 depressions with pithy centers extending deep into the tissue may be 

 noted. There is usually a marked irregularity in the shape of the 

 apple and many of those most seriously affected are dwarfed and 

 drop about midsummer. 



San Jos^ scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.) . 

 This pest has not bred very abundantly, as a rule, in the Hudson 

 valley and examination last fall in unsprayed orchards which had 

 been under observation for several years, showed that, if anything, 



