REPORT OP THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1903 151 



little species, far more abundant than we had observed it before, 

 in a badly infested peach orchard in Orange county. The little 

 beetles were so numerous that 20 or 25 could easily be counted on a 

 small portion of the trunk of a peachtree, and undoubtedly some 

 of them bore from one to several hundred of these little lady 

 beetles. They were crawling actively over the infested tree and 

 evidently looking here and there for insects suitable for their 

 needs. It is a source of regret to state that in spite of the great 

 abundance of these little lady beetles, there appears to be no very 

 material diminution in the numbers of the scale insects, which 

 literally swarmed on many of the trees. The worse infested ones 

 were more attractive to the lady beetles than the others. We have 

 yet to meet evidence showing that this species is very efficient in 

 reducing the numbers of this scale insect. 



EXPERIMENTAL WORK AGAINST SAN JOSE SCALE 



INSECT 



The control of this pernicious insect is a problem of consider- 

 able importance in localities where it has become established. 

 This work was begun by us in 1900, primarily for the purpose of 

 testing the effectiveness and possibilities of crude oil applications. 

 Our results show that a mechanical emulsion of this material can 

 be used, and if great caution is exercised in its application, com- 

 paratively little or no injury follows. So many, however, have 

 met with such ill success that we have also experimented to a con- 

 siderable extent with other materials, specially since in the last 

 year or two we have observed some evidences of injury to the 

 bark after the application of oil. This first appears as an enlarge- 

 ment of the lenticels, which is evidently followed by a great 

 increase in thickness and a very rough, unsatisfactory condition 

 of the bark, and this has led us to question the advisability of 

 continuing such applications year after year, and also to make 

 further tests of materials which were free from this objection. 



Early spring or winter applications 

 20;^ mechanical crude petroleum emulsion. The work with this 

 insecticide was continued the present season in the experimental 

 orchard, the application being made Mar. 3, to about 70 trees 



