16 BULLETIN" 134, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
If this scale occurred widely over the Valencia section in such 
numbers as at Piaporto, Picaiia, and Piug, it would, of course, out- 
rank the black scale in destructiveness. At the points mentioned 
it is the most serious of all the scales because of its damage to the 
tree, as well as its effect on the market value of the fruit. It occurs 
also in injurious numbers farther south, as at Murcia, Malaga, and 
Seville. It is very commonly seen on the fruit in the markets in 
these sections, and the trees in many places show the effect of the 
scales. Even in the famous Patio de los Naranjos (Court of Oranges) 
of the mosque at Cordova and of the cathedral at Seville the trees 
are having a hard struggle to exist on account of the severe infesta- 
tion by this scale. Taking the entire citrus area of Spain this scale 
may be the most important, but in the important co m mercial section 
of Valencia, where 90 per cent of the crop is produced, it is first only 
in a few small areas. 
In the citrus belt along the French and Italian Riviera this species 
was seen at San Remo and Porto Maurizio; at the former place in 
destructive numbers on a few small trees. In Sicily it occurs at 
Catania, Messina, and Palermo. (PL III, fig. 4; PI. IV, figs. 1 and 2.) 
At Messina it is found in several places around the city and does 
considerable injury. Its first recorded appearance on the island, 
four or five years ago, was at this place. At Catania it is more or 
less widely distributed, while at Palermo it is still limited to a few 
small areas, but it is destructive as far as its spread has occurred. 
LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 
This species, somewhat like the yellow scale (OJirysompJialus 
aurantii Mask., var. citrinus Coq.), attacks the leaves and fruit 
largely. These will be found heavily infested and often there will 
be but a few on the twigs and branches. This habit of avoiding the 
twigs and branches is not so complete as with the yellow scale, but 
is distinctly more pronounced than with the California red scale 
{Clirysomphalus aurantii Mask.). In severe infestations, of course, 
and where the leaves have fallen, C. dictyospermi will be found in 
considerable numbers on the twigs. Because the twigs and branches 
are not so severely infested the injury is neither so great nor so rapid 
as is the case with C. aurantii. But the dropping of the leaves 
greatly injures the tree temporarily and new leaves scarcely grow 
out until they in turn are attacked. 
While the life history of this species has not been worked out in 
detail, it is probably very similar to that of 0. aurantii. The latter 
species requires two and one-half to four months for its develop- 
ment. There would thus be between three and four, possibly four, 
full generations in a year. 
