394 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Albany, N. Y., and establish themselves on the under side of the leaves. Some may 

 be found on the upper surface and occasionally they attack the more tender twigs. 

 The insects are yellowish for a time, the females showing deep red markings about 

 the time the delicate two winged males appear, and later change to. a brownish color, 

 and migrate to the under side of the twigs shortly before the leaves fall. Mr. Putnam 

 found that the males appear from August i to September 15, pair, and then die. 

 The females pass the winter on the under side of the twigs and in the spring increase 

 rapidly in size and secrete large amounts of honey dew, which gums the leaves and 

 smears everything beneath the infested trees. The insects soon begin to excrete the 

 familiar cottony matter in which the eggs are deposited and by July are very notice- 

 able when present in numbers. 



As is well known, this pest is most destructive to the soft or silver maple, though 

 it occurs on many other plants. It also attacks other species of maples, elms and 

 grape vines. The above named species are the more important plants which are most 

 seriously injured. 



Method of Distribution. The young of this scale insect are carried from tree to 

 tree in about the same manner as allied species. Birds, other insects and even spiders 

 frequenting infested trees are often compelled to assist in the distribution of this pest 

 by the active young crawling on them as they rest on the twigs. Once a young scale 

 is on a bird's foot or on an insect, there is a good chance that it will be carried to 

 another tree before it leaves its host. Winds probably aid somewhat in the dissemina- 

 tion of the pest, and it is undoubtedly carried on infested trees which may be shipped 

 to distant parts of the country. 



Natural Enemies. Fortunately this prolific insect has a number of natural enemies 

 which undoubtedly do much toward keeping it in check. The twice stabbed lady bird, 

 Chilocorns bivulnerus Muls., is one of the more common insects found preying on 

 the pest in New York. The fifteen spotted lady bird, Anatis ocellata Linn., 

 Hyperaspis signata Oliv. and H. bigeminata Rand., are allies of the first mentioned in 

 checking the cottony maple tree scale insect. An interesting lepidopterous enemy, 

 Lcetilia coccidivora Comst., was reared by Professor J. H. Comstock from this scale 

 insect. Larvae of lace wing flies, Chrysopa species, were observed by Mr. Putnam 

 preying on the young. A species of harvest mite attacks this pest, according to Miss 

 Murtfeldt. Two hymenopterous parasites, Coccophagus lecanii Fitch, and Aphycus 

 pnlvinarice How., have been reared from this scale insect. 



Remedies. Brushing with a stiff broom will dislodge many insects. This should 

 be done before the young scatter and would be more effective if the brush was dipped 

 frequently in kerosene emulsion or other insecticide. Professor C. M. Weed states 

 that this pest can be fought with a considerable degree of success by washing them 



