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us have experienced, to our sorrow, the severity of the wounds resulting from the > 
venom of the insect. [September 16, 1891.] * * * 
SECOND LETTER.— ~*~ ~ * My experience with Conorhinus sanguisugusis rather 
limited. Along in the summer, about May 20, my attention was drawn to this 
Hemipteron by being bitten by what I supposed to be bedbugs. A careful search 
was promptly made, but no bugs could be found. Still we were bitten, and one 
morning my mother handed me a big bug distended with blood, and for several morn- 
ings by looking we were enabled to find from one to two about the bed. The log 
house which we rent is roughly built, and they hid in the walls during the day and 
came out at night. There were not many, for after killing a dozen or so we were 
not bothered any more. This bite was not much more severe than that of a bedbug, 
and no ill consequences followed like those of which I have read. Those captured 
on the bed in the morning were gorged with blood, as stated in my letter on page 
466 of volume 11, INsEcT LIFE. I have eaught them out in the woods and I do not 
see what they get to suck blood from out there. I suppose in cases where their bites 
prove seriously injurious the person must be in ill health. * * * [A.N. Caudell, 
Indian Territory, October 29, 1891. 
The Orange-leaf Aleyrodes. 
I send a few leaves from orange trees on my plantation at this place (lat. 27° 30’). 
From last April to August I had millions of a tiny white-winged insect (pink tint), 
on some 300 or more of my trees and caused them to disappear by using whale-oil 
soap, lime, etc. Three hundred trees are now black with the smut, leaves, branches, 
_andall. Isthisinsect Aleyrodes citrifolii? Does this insect or smut hurt the vitality 
of the tree in any way? The smut is on the fruit also, and some of my oranges have 
been rendered almost insipid (usually delicious) either by the insect, smut, or the 
insecticide applied (probably the latter). Any suggestion from you touching this 
miserable pest and how best to get rid of the winged insect, if it again appears, and 
the smut, will be very gratefully received.—[Charles H. Foster, Florida, January 8, 
1891. 
REPLY.— The insect which you send is, as you suppose, Aleyrodes 
citrifolii. The smut fungus is the result of the abundance of these insects. 
The work of the‘insects undoubtedly reduces the vitality of the tree, and while 
the fungus mycelium does not penetrate the plant substance, yet, by forming a 
dense coating, it undoubtedly still further reduces its vitality. The insect is now 
upon the leaves in its wingless form, and many of the specimens sent by you were 
still living and about full grown. The tiny white-winged form is the adult in- 
sect. The immature insects can be destroyed by the application of a dilute kerosene- 
soap emulsicn made according to the formula on page 3 of Circular No. 1 of this Divi- 
sion and the smut fungus can be removed from the trees by spraying with a strong 
whale-oil soap solution (7 pounds of the whale-oil soap to 28 gallonsof water). Thisis 
so strong, however, that it will damage the foliage if allowed to remain on long, and 
it should, therefore, be allowed to remain on the tree only about two hours, and the 
tree should then be sprayed with pure water. The strong alkaline solution will cut 
the fungus, so that it can be easily washed off by the water spray.—[January 14, 
1892. ] 
Orange Chionaspis in Florida. 
I inclose section of an orange twig on which is some kind of scale insect that is new 
here. It is, so far as I know, confined to one locality, but seems to be spreading rap- 
idly. * * * [E. Bean, Florida, October 23, 1891. 
REPLY.— * * * Thescale which you send is the Orange Chionaspis (Chionaspis 
citri Comst.). This insect occurs in the West Indies and is the commonest orange 
scale in Louisiana. Itisrare in Florida and, in fact, we have only received it once from 
your State. In Louisianait does considerable damage to orange trees and if it appears 
