824 



OPEN FLOWER-GARDEN. 



The pine-apple scale {Coccus bromelice) infests 

 that fruit under bad cultivation. 



Aspidiotus echinocacti (Bouche.) — The female 

 very much resembles A. nerii, only that the 

 shield is more oblong, and of a darker colour ; 

 the male is orange or yellow, the pupa linear, 

 powdered with grey, and doubly furrowed. As 

 the name implies, it is found on the Echino- 

 oactus, and also on most other of the Cactus 

 tribe. As it nestles amongst the spines and in 

 the deep angles of the plants, its destruction is 

 difficult. The fumes of a hotbed of stable manure 

 in a high state of fermentation is the only means 

 we have found of destroying them, while in such 

 an atmosphere most of the Cacti luxuriate during 

 their growing season. 



The small brown scale (Aspidiotus proteus), 

 fig. 268, had escaped the notice of entomologists 



Fig. 268. 



£AIALL BROWN SCALE. 



until about 1843, when it was detected and de- 

 scribed by the writer of the entomological 

 articles in the early numbers of the " Gardeners' 

 Chronicle." It is said to be very abundant in 

 plant-houses, and was first discovered on the 

 leaves of aloes and amaryllises. It belongs to 

 the second section above noticed, and is named 

 proteus, from the variety of forms it assumes. 

 In regard to the destruction of the scale insects 

 in general, the late T. A. Knight tried a dressing 

 of lime and flour of sulphur with beneficial 

 effects. 



The brown limpet scale (Coccus patellaformis) 

 is described as being the largest of the family 

 that infests our plant-houses. It is, however, 

 fortunately not very often met with ; it is 

 nearly allied to C. hesperidum, but is larger and 

 of greater length. The females are in general 

 found with their heads downwards, and vary 

 very considerably in size and form, some being 

 oval, others more elliptical, while some are 

 slightly curved. 



The turtle scale ( Coccus testudo), fig. 269, is 

 found chiefly on tropical plants requiring a high 

 temperature. The scale is oval, convex, and of a 

 dark-brown colour. Besides those already de- 



scribed, there are C. ross (rose scale), C. Lauri 

 (sweet-bay scale), and it is possible some others 

 imported along with plants from the tropics. 



Fig. 269. 



TURTLE SCALE. 



The rocket tinea moth (Tinea hesperidella 

 Hub., T. porrectella Linn.), fig. 270, is often 

 most destructive to the rocket plants, and may 



Fig. 270. 



ROCKET TINEA MOTH. 



be detected where the leaves are found, as it 

 were, glued together, on opening which a small 

 green caterpillar of different shades of colour, 

 according to its age, will be found feeding on 

 the tender leaves, sometimes alone, and at other 

 times accompanied by five or six in a younger 

 stage. It is conjectured that there are two 

 broods a-year, and in some measure a succession 

 of them, for perfect insects have been found 

 during the entire month of June, as well as of 

 May, and also in August, and occasionally so 

 late as the beginning of October, and that not 

 only on the rocket, but on plants of allied genera. 

 The larva tapers towards both extremities, has 

 six pectoral, eight abdominal, and two anal feet. 



