168 



Insect Pests. 



A faint, white membrane is seen around the e<]-e of the scale in 

 some specimens. At the pointed end, we iKjtice a smaller scaly 

 area, marked off from the larger. Tills is tlie insects' cast skm, 

 tlie so-called exuvium. 



If we lift np one of these scales on tlie apple tree with the point 

 of u knife some time during the late summer, turn it over and look at 

 it with a magnifying glass, we shall at once see lying at the front 

 end of the scaled a small pale, fleshy mass, which has distinct lines 

 across it, Tliis is the female insect, whiclr has formed, as we shall 

 see, the tiny scale aljove to serve as a protecting house. With the 

 point of a pin this legless, wingless, feelerless, female can easilv be 

 taken fronr rmder the scale, and can be more carefully examined. 

 AMtli the aid of a strong magnifying glass her body will be seen 



to lie somewhat ol.ihing in form. One 

 will uotice that there are no traces of any 

 organs of locomotion or any marked external 

 segmented structures, sncli as the feelers. 

 Hut in iixmt, we shall see the mouth, 

 which is in the form of long, thread-like 

 structures, often much longer than the 

 body of the insect. This long, thread-like 

 orgair is forced deep into the tissue of the 

 apple tree, and liy it the sap of the tree is 

 drawn up into the scale insect's Ijody. 

 'Now we must show a little patience and 

 search, perhaps for some lioirrs, annjngst 

 the scales on the apple trees to look out 

 for the much rarer scale of the male insect. 

 Tlic male scale can be told from the female 

 by its much smaller size and squarer fuiild. They cannot always 

 be f )und. 



If we keep examining the mussel scales on the apple tree inio tlie 

 winter, we shall find that by degrees the female body become smaller 

 and smaller, and e\'eutually remains behind as a sllri^•elled mass of 

 skin undei' the scale. .\s the female shrivels up, we tind gradually 

 accumulating, at the broad end ol' tlie scale, small oval, grey bodies, 

 looking like dust. I'hesc are the eggs of the insect, of \\hich as 

 nuiny as eighty may occur under each srale, but ol'teii only thirty 

 to f irty, in this country, in fact, the female becomes merelv a bag 

 of eggs, and so has carried nut her sole I'linctimi, that of contiiuring 

 lier species. In dune, we lind that these dust-like eggs hatch nut 

 into little active crealures, provided with six short legs and t\\'o 



1 F. h: 



HO.— PKurUl'.VL ^TAiiE <it 

 .\ MALK SC'AT.K JNSECT. 

 ex 1;'.) 



