62 MISC. PUBLICATION 6 2 6, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Figure 100. — Tuberose bulbs cut in 

 half to show: A, Uninjured tissue; 

 and B, neck region and embryo flower 

 destroyed bv bulb mites. 



Figure 



101. — Bulb mites. About 3 

 times natural size. 



Treatment. — Carefully cull and 

 burn or bury deeply all heavily infested 

 stocks at the time they are being 

 cleaned. The remainder of the stocks 

 should be given the hot-water treatment 

 as recommended for the bulb flies, dis- 

 cussed above. 



Prevention. — When growing plants 

 become infested, remove and burn them 

 to prevent the mites from spreading to 

 nearby plants. Planting in well-drained 

 soil is recommended. 



Bulb Scale Mite 



The bulb scale mite (Tarsonemus 

 laticeps Halbert) differs from the bulb 

 mite in that it is definitely injurious to 

 narcissus, is not associated with rots, 

 and is closely related to the cyclamen 

 mite (p. 38). Infested bulbs become 

 spongy and soft in the neck region (fig. 

 102) because the mites work there, feed- 

 ing between the leaves and flower stem. 



Figure 102. — Work of bulb scale mites 

 in the neck region of a narcissus bulb. 

 Bulb cut in half to show streaking of 

 bulb scales. 



When the leaves and flower stems grow 

 upward, the fed-over areas show yellow- 

 ish-brown scarlike streaks, a condition 

 which may easily be confused with that 

 caused by the mosaic disease of narcis- 

 sus. This mite is chiefly a problem in 

 commercial production but may at 

 times cause serious concern to the gar- 

 dener and hybridizer. It is so small 

 that it cannot be seen with the naked 

 eye, but small groups of mites look like 

 grains of sand. When magnified, this 

 mite can be distinguished from the bulb 

 mite by the torpedolike appearance of 

 the female and the fact that it moves 

 somewhat faster. 



Treatment and prevention. — Same 

 as recommended for the preceding 

 species, the bulb mite. In addition, do 

 not store the bulbs in a warm place for 

 too long a period prior to replanting in 

 the fall ; otherwise the mites will build up 

 large populations, and the subsequent 

 flowers and foliage of such bulbs will be 

 severely injured. 



Spanish Moth 



The caterpillars of the Spanish moth 

 (Xanthopastis iimais (Cramer)j devour 

 the leaves of narcissus, amaryllis, lilies, 

 and tuberose. They seem to concentrate 

 their attack on certain spots in the plant- 

 ing and often complete^ eat the foliage 

 to the ground. There are several color 

 forms of the caterpillars, but usually they 

 are brownish or grayish and smooth, 

 about 2 inches long, and resemble those 

 of cutworms, to which they are closely 

 related. This species seems to occur 

 more often in the Southeastern States, 

 although its distribution range is from 

 Maine to Argentina and in the West 

 Indies. The pupa, which is dark brown, 

 is found in the soil near the plant. 



