26 



use in the orchard, but where a small area only is to be treated it is 

 perhaps the best form in which the oil can be used. Diluted some- 

 what more, it is also valuable for summer work arid more effective 

 than whale oil soap. 



Whale oil soap may also be used at the rate of two pounds in one 

 gallon of water. At this strength the soap is itself likely to prove 

 injuricfus, unless used late in the season. 



THE MAPLE PSEUDOCOCCUS. 



Pseudococcus aceris, Geoff. 



This is a species which, while it belongs to the scale insects, differs 

 from the others here dealt with in many points. About midsummer 

 there may be found on the leaves and trunks of hard maples little, 

 fluffy, white masses that somewhat resemble the cottony maple scale. 

 At first the white shows in the crevices of the bark, then in all other 

 depressions, and finally, in bad cases, the entire trunk may look as if 

 thoroughly whitewashed. The insects will be piled, not in a single 

 layer nor evenly distributed, but in masses half an inch thick or 

 more; great clumps will occur in some situations and in others they 

 will be sparsely scattered. On the leaves the masses will be found on 

 the under side along the veins and whenever they are numerous the 

 leaves may turn yellow and drop before the ordinary period. 



If one of these fluffy patches be carefully examined it will be found 

 to consist of a little mass of a stringy, wax-like material, beneath 

 which and at one end is the body of the adult female and her eggs. 

 This female is wingless, pale 3'ellow and rather less than one-quarter 

 of an inch in length. The eggs are also light yellow and are found 

 numerously in the waxy secretions. 



The larvfB that hatch from these eggs are like them in color and 

 move about for a considerable period before selecting a place to fix 

 and grow. After midsummer the winged males, which are reddish, 

 will be found crawling over the waxy masses in search of the females. 

 Reproductioil continues throughout the season, and on some trees, 

 when badly infested, the appearance is quite unique. Xo definite 

 scale forms over this insect, which is protected liy the waxy strings 

 alone. 



