88 



ORANGE CULTURE. 



They breed throughout the year, and in the fall lay their 

 eggs where the scale insect is most abundant ; then, when their 

 eggs hatch, the dark spine-like larva at once commence feeding 

 on the scales around them ; soon they cmwl off to a retired spot, 

 affix themselves to a leaf or branch, and become pupte, which, in 

 a few days again, change to a soft pale-colored beetle, without a 

 sign of the spots and dark wings shortly to appear. 



If there is any Spanish moss on the tree, the larva will be 

 found there in greater numbers than elsewhere. 



The minute scymnus, large scymnus, and red orange mite, 

 are so small as to be rarely observed by the naked eye, and hence 

 need no description here, as they are exposed to the same danger 

 of destruction by those they serve as are those heretofore men- 

 tioned. 



The two former are beetles, whose larva, hatching in the 

 spring at the same time with the scale insects, wage relentless 

 war upon them. 



They come in April and disappear in June, to reappear 

 when the great fall broods are hatched. 



The orange Chrysopa is another most helpful friend ; it is a 

 small, lace-winged, yellowish green fly, much resembling a tiny 

 dragon fly ; its eggs are suspended on a delicate thread to the 

 orange leaf, the larva covers itself with minute pieces of dried 

 leaves or bai'k, feeding on the scale inside until the time comes 

 for it to form an oval mass-like cocoon on the ujDper j^art of the 

 leaf, whence in a few days the perfect fly emerges. 



The blood-red lady bug is also an exceedingly active helper 

 to the orange grower, devouring the scale insects by the million ; 

 the pupa emerges from a gummy substance attached to a leaf, 

 and becomes a perfect beetle (red) without spots or markings. 

 We have been thus particular in describing^ the appearance of 

 these little friends of ours that they be recognized as such, anc 

 their lives spared; other friends the orange tree has besides, bu' 

 we have not space to enumerate them. 



The mealy bug is one of the most serious enemies, not only 

 of the orange, but of the pine-apple, and if not relentlessly fought, 

 threatens to become a worse enemy than the scale. 



