14 



early stages of these insects. A few observations of this nature are 

 given in the Annual Eeport of this Department for the year 1880, fur- 

 nished by the former Entomologist, who spent a few weeks in this State 

 during the year above mentioned. The habits and natural history 

 of the Fluted or Cottony Scale {leery a purchasi Mask.) have been 

 thoroughly studied out and a complete account has been published by 

 Prof. Eiley in the former reports and bulletins of this Department. I 

 have nothing new to add to what has already been written and pub- 

 lished in regard to this pest. 



The following notes upon various kinds of scale-insects occurring in 

 this State were taken by the writer during a residence of about eight 

 years in various parts of the State, and, although of a fragmentary 

 nature, will still throw some light upon the habits and early stages of 

 these pests. To these notes I have added my experience with various 

 remedies employed for the destruction of these insects. 



The Red Scajle. 

 (Aspidiotus aurantii Mask.) 



This at the present time is the most injurious scale-insect that our 

 growers of citrus fruits have to contend with. As near as I have been 

 able to learn it was first introduced into this State in the year 1879,* 

 upon lemon trees brought from Australia and planted in one of the 

 orange groves of this city. Mr. Alexander Or aw, who formerly had 

 charge of a large orange and lemon grove almost adjoining the one in 

 which these infested trees were planted, informed me that when he first 

 saw the Eed Scales upon these imported trees he feared that they would 

 prove to be a great pest, and expressed his fears to the owner of the 

 trees, advising him to destroy the infested trees with fire. This he 

 promised to do, but shortly afterward was taken sick and died, and 

 the property passed into the hands of an administrator, who claimed 

 that he had no legal right to destroy any of the property placed in his 

 care, and therefore the infested trees were allowed to stand and the 

 scale spread from them to the adjoining groves until it was found im- 

 possible to eradicate them. 



At about the same time that these infested trees were brought to 

 Los Angeles others from the same locality, and like them also infested 

 with the Eed Scale, were taken to Orange and planted in one of the 

 groves there ; and from these trees almost every citrus grove in that 

 locality became infested with these pests. 



The number of broods that this species produces in one season is not 

 definitely known, and doubtless varies with the character of the sea- 

 son, hot weather accelerating their development, while cool weather 

 retards it. From observation which I have made it is quite evident 

 that in ordinary seasons at least four generations are produced in one 



* Facts -which we have not space to detail here make it tolerably certain that the 

 Red Scale was introduced at least several years prior to this date. — C. V. K. 



