1908.] Insect, Fungus, and other Pests. 



437 



with dilute paraffin emulsion. With the allied Chermes of 

 spruce and larch the best results are obtained by spraying in 

 the winter with an emulsion composed of 3 lb. of soft soap 

 dissolved in 2 quarts of boiling water, adding 1 pint of paraffin 

 while still hot and churning thoroughly. For use this should 

 be diluted with 5 gallons of water. For summer treatment, 

 when the trees are in active life, the emulsion should be more 

 diluted. 



Specimens from Oakham were infested with the galls 

 caused by the aphis Pemphigus buysarius, Koch ; plums from 

 London with Plum Aphides (see Leaflet No. 104) ; aphides 

 on gooseberries were received from Inverurie, Orpington, 

 Chelsfield and Southampton ; Aphis rumicis or Bean Aphis on 

 broad beans from Plymouth, Tavistock and Salt ash (two) ; 

 Spruce Gall Aphis on spruce shoots from Dunfermline; and 

 Larch Aphis on larch from Stevenage. 



Scale on Roses. — Rose specimens from Falmouth were in- 

 fested with the rose scale, Diapsis roscz. Badly diseased 

 branches should be removed immediately and burnt. In 

 August, when the larvae appear, the trees should be sprayed 

 several times with soft soap and quassia. If this is not effectual, 

 the branches should be carefully washed in February with a 

 paraffin emulsion, but for roses paraffin must be used sparingly. 



Other Pests. — Pear Leaf Blister Mite. — Late in June the 

 Board received from Hunstanton specimens of pear leaves 

 infested with the Pear Leaf Blister Mite, Phytoptus (Eriophyes) 

 pyri. The blisters on leaves attacked by this mite vary in 

 colour ; they may be green, red, red-green, and later black 

 or brown. They are sometimes confused with the spots on 

 the leaves due to a fungus, but the mite galls can be distin- 

 guished, with the assistance of the lens, by a small hole on the 

 under side of each. The mite is microscopic, but its general 

 appearance can be fairly well seen from the figure of the black 

 currant mite shown in the Board's Leaflet No. 1. Badly 

 infested leaves should be hand-pulled and burnt. In America the 

 mite is combated by spraying when the leaves fall, presumably 

 with a view to killing any mites which at this time have not 

 passed into hiding. Winter is passed by the mites under the 

 outer bud scales of the buds, and here it is possible, perhaps, 

 for the paraffin emulsion to reach them. Spraying trees early 



