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



check by rubbing off the large scales as 

 they develop and spraying several times 

 with a soap solution (p. 100) or a nicotine 

 sulfate and soap solution. 



The vedalia or Australian lady beetle 

 (Rodolia cardinalis (Muls.)) feeds vora- 

 ciously on the cottony-cushion scale. 

 In areas where this beetle has been 

 introduced and is still present, the scale 

 is usually controlled by the beetle, 

 although a considerable infestation may 

 develop before the predator increases 

 sufficiently to become effective. 



Other Pests of Pittosporum 



Page 



Aphids 9 



Mealybugs 31 



Soft scale 43 



PRIVET 



White Peach Scale 



The white peach scale (Pseudaula- 

 caspis pentagona (Targ.)), formerly 

 called the West Indian peach scale, 

 occasionally attacks privet. It also 

 infests flowering cherry, lilac, and peach, 

 and sometimes other trees and shrubs. 

 Sometimes the bark is covered with the 

 tiny whitish scales (fig. 118), and the 

 plants are weakened or branches are 

 killed by these sucking insects. The 

 female scale is circular, nearly Mo inch 

 in diameter, and grayish, with a yellow- 



Figure 118. — Stem of privet covered 

 with the white peach scale. About 

 natural size. 



ish center. The male scales are smaller, 

 more oval or elongate, and pure white. 

 Clusters of these white male scales are 

 often noticeable near the base of 

 branches. Several generations develop 

 annually, the number depending on the 

 latitude. They pass the winter evi- 

 dently in the full-grown stage. 



Treatment. — Apply an oil spray at 

 dormant strength in the spring before 

 growth starts. Lime-sulfur will ap- 

 parently give a fair degree of control if 

 applied during the dormant period. 



Privet Mite 



In the Southeastern States the foliage 

 of privet is sometimes injured by a tiny 

 mite called the privet mite (Brevipalpus 

 inornatvs (Banks)). The leaves show a 

 gradual yellowing or fading, but do not 

 have the tiny spots of discoloration on 

 the upper surface which is characteris- 

 tic of injury by the red spider mite (p. 

 11). The mites feed on the under sides 

 of the leaves, where they suck the plant 

 juices, and may occur in great numbers. 

 Severe infestations may cause the foliage 

 to drop. Occasionally other plants, 

 such as Boston ivy and goldenrod, may 

 be attacked. The privet mite is too 

 small to be readily seen with the naked 



eye, being only 



inch long. When 



magnified, it appears as a somewhat 

 oval, eight-legged mite, broader at the 

 head end, and the body of the female 

 is crimson. Masses of the minute, 

 blood-red eggs may be observed also on 

 the lower leaf surface. 



Treatment. — Spraying with lime- 

 sulfur is an effective control measure. 

 Dusting with a dusting sulfur or spray- 

 ing with a wettable sulfur would prob- 

 ably also be effective if done several 

 times. The derris-sulfonated castor oil 

 spray (p. 99) that is so effective against 

 the two-spotted spider mite should work 

 equally well against the privet mite, al- 

 though it has not been tested. The 

 insecticides should be so applied that 

 they will thoroughly cover the under 

 sides of the leaves, where the mites 

 occur. 



Privet Aphid 



Occasionally the new leaves of privet 

 become tightly curled lengthwise in the 

 spring as a result of infestation with the 

 privet aphid {Myzus ligustri (Mosley)). 

 The sucking of the plant juices from the 

 leaves by these small plant lice causes 

 this injury. About midsummer the 

 aphids apparently leave the privet for 

 other host plants, returning in the fall 

 to deposit their overwintering eggs. 



