I 



INSECTS INJUEIOUS TO CITEUS TEEES. 



as described under the head, Black Scale. 



Male insect, winged; color, thorax and 

 body dark brown, abdomen red; antennae 

 dark colored, with light brown hairs ex- 

 tending from each joint; wmgs brown, 

 irridescent. ____ 



TREATMENT FOR SCALE BUGS. 

 [From the Bulletin of tlie Los Angeles Horticultu- 

 ral Commission.] 



In all cases of infection from the white 

 cottony cushion scale, it is recommended 

 that the trees be thoroughly sprayed pre- 

 vious to an}^ pruning. This plan is deem- 

 ed the better one, because the danger of 

 scattering and spreading the insects is 

 much less than in the pi-actice of cutting 

 back or thinning out the trees previous to 

 medicating. If properly and thoroughly 

 used this first application will kill a con- 

 siderable proportion of the bugs, man^^ of 

 which, if the trees were first pruned or 

 cut back, notwithstanding the use of great 

 caution and care in removing brush to the 

 fire, would fall to the ground and seek 

 adjoining trees or plants for food and 

 breeding spots. 



Use for spraying white scale, 35 pounds 

 whale-oil soap, 4 gallons coal oil (110 fire 

 test), to every 100 gallons of water. The 

 coal oil must be made into an emulsion 

 with the soap first, then add balance of 

 soap and water, in the following manner: 

 First, boil the soap in as little water as pos- 

 sible, as the soap must be thick to take up 

 the coal oil and make a proper emulsion. 

 When thoroughly dissolved and well boil- 

 ed, place five gallons of this liot soap in 

 an empty barrel, some distance from the 

 boiling kettle, to prevent accident from 

 fire; then add coal oil and churn vigor- 

 ously for about ten minutes, with a stick 

 with cross pieces about five inches wide 

 at the end, forming a T. If the mixture 

 at this time turns to a thick cream, pour 

 in a little cold water — say two gallons — 

 and churn again for a few moments; then 

 add five or more gallons of water. Do not 

 pour in water all at once, but a little at a 

 time, and Churn constantly while poui-mg 

 in the water. This mixture, when prop- 

 erly emulsified, will form a whitish, 

 creamy substance. The most p;irticular 

 attention must be given to malting the 

 emulsion proper!}', otherwise the oil, not 

 being incorporated with the soap aiid wa- 



97 



ter, will rise to the top, and while portions 

 of the tree will receive an overdose of 

 kerosene, other parts will get little else 

 than soap and water. The result will be 

 unsatisfactory, for the coal oil must go 

 with the soap to do eftectual work in kill- 

 ing the bug. 



As soon as practicable after the first ap- 

 plication, proceed to cut back and thin out 

 the tree, burning the brush as near the 

 tree from which it is taken as possible 

 withotit danger of injury to it. A large 

 canvas under the tree during the pruning 

 will, if carefully disinfected at the finish, 

 prove of considerable benefit. A band of 

 rope, thoroughly smeared with coal tar, 

 about the trunk of the tree, first putting 

 a band of leather or thick cloth over which 

 to tie the rope, will prevent- the insect from 

 ascending, and tend to indicate its presence 

 and location for future treatment. Cases 

 of ordinary infection can undoubtedly be 

 cured if the above is carried out faithfully 

 and to the very letter, and by keeping 

 such close watch over the trees that the 

 reappearance of the bug is at once fol- 

 lowed by an application of the spray, be- 

 fore any time has lapsed for breeding and 

 spreading. In aggravated cases of infec- 

 tion, where the bug has a strong hold 

 upon the tree, topping, careful brush 

 burning and hand scrubbing must be re- 

 sorted to. Btit even in such cases the use 

 of the spray at first would much simplif3^ 

 the work and lessen the danger of scatter- 

 ing and spreading the scale bugs. It is 

 highly necessaiy to success that all weeds 

 in the vicinity of infected trees should be 

 carefully gathered up and burned. 



For the red scale, July and August are 

 the best uiontiis to spray in, as they hatch 

 during May and June. Use thirLy-fi\ e 

 pounds of soap and three gallons coal oil 

 to evei-y one hundred gallons of water. If 

 sprayed in September or October add five 

 pounds of soap. 



The best months to spra\- for black 

 scale are September and October. Tbey 

 hatch through July and August. Use 

 thirty pounds soap and two and one-half 

 gallons coal oil to every one hundred gal- 

 lons watei-. Thinning out and cutting 

 away all surplus v>rood will do much to- 

 ^vat ds t elie\ ing the trees fi-om black scale. 

 Care should be taken to strain the wash 

 through fine wire cloth, otherwise frequent 

 stops v. ill be necessary to clear the spray 

 nozzle. 



