2 BULLETIN 1223, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
the native elm also produces wood which is particularly valuable it 
the making of vehicles, baskets, crating, ete. | 
The European elm scale infests all species of elm, having become 
such a very disagreeable and harmful pest that in many eastern 
localities these trees are no longer recommended for planting. In 
the West the scale insect is not so widely distributed, nor are many 
of its eastern associates present, so that in spite of the elm scale the 
tree 1s still recognized as one of the best for shade. 
Fortunately, the scale in America infests only elms and is not ¢ 
pest on fruit or other shade trees, as are many of the aggressiv 
scale insects. 
HISTORY. 
This insect was first noted in the United States in 1884, when 
Charles Fremd found it infesting elm trees in his nursery at Rye, 
Westchester County, N. Y. It had undoubtedly been imported 
from Europe, where it has been known for nearly 200 years. It 
was next reported by Professor Comstock from New York City, 
where he had found it rather abundant in the winter of 1886-7. A 
few months later John G. Jack sent specimens to the United States” 
Bureau of Entomology from slippery elm growing at Cambridge, 
Mass. In 1888 it was found at Washington, iD: ee infesting elms | 
on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture and also in two 
localities on the streets of the city. 
Up to this time it had not been positively identified, but the next 
year Dr. L. O. Howard made a thorough study of the insect and _ 
identified it as the European elm scale (10). 
A few years later this scale insect was found to have invaded the- 
western part of the United States. In 1894, Alexander Craw (2), 
of the California State Board of Horticulture, reported that during 
the previous season E. M. Ehrhorn had noted the European elm 
scale upon elms at Stanford University, California. The next year. 
Mr. Hillman, entomologist of Nevada, reported it from Reno, Nev., 
and in 1906 A. lL. Melander (6), entomologist of Washington, — 
stated that it had been in Spokane, Wash., for several years. 
From time to time it has been reported from one State or another 
until it is now known to occur in 27 States besides the District cf 
Columbia. 
SYNONYMY. 
As abel as 1788 this scale was known in n Europe, at which time — 
Reaumur (8) figured the female in all its stages and gave its 
natural history, but failed to give it a name except that of “pro- 
egallinsecte ” of the elm. 
The first name given to it was Coccus ulmi by Linnaeus (74, p. 265) 
in 1761. In 1875, Signoret (19, p. 27) removed this insect from the 
genus Coccus and erected a new genus, Gossyparia, with w/mi as 
the type. The specific name wlme was retained until recently, when 
it was discovered that it rightfully belonged to another insect named 
Coccus ulmi Linnaeus (1 3, p. 455) in 1758, since removed to the 
genus Lepidosaphes. Consequently the next ‘specific name used for 
the Huo pena elm seale, spwr?us, anvlied to it in 1778 by Modeer 
q 
3 iNumbers in a ee (italic) refer to Literature cited, p. 18. 
