39 
ence. Turning my attention to the latter I discovered it to he in reality a spider 
(Ordgarim cornigerm Hentz) which had been resting on the leaf, its curiously formed 
ahdomen simulating exactly hoth in form and color the common oak gall, even to 
the tiny punctures through which the gall insect makes its exit when mature, a 
remarkable example of protective mimicry. — [R. S. Lull, Washington, D. C, Septem- 
ber 11, 1893. 
A new Scale Insect in Florida. 
1 inclose apiece of wood from plum tree that is covered with a scale which is 
destroying a large number of peach and plum trees in this section. The tree I cut 
this piece from was sprayed a few days since with kerosene emulsion — 2 pounds 
whale-oil soap, 4 gallons kerosene, 40 gallons of water. I do not think these scales 
are killed, even with that, and I have tried pure kerosene and failed to kill all. 
What is the scale? What is the best way to destroy it? It appeared in my orchard 
several years since and has killed, or materially damaged, a few trees every year. I 
tind that during the spring and summer they cover the body and larger limbs with 
a cottony substance, making a complete covering about the head of the tree and 
extending up on the larger limbs and down the trunk several inches. I have seen 
trees 5 inches in diameter killed entirely. The bark dies at the head when covered 
and extends up the limbs and down the body until the whole tree is dead. I dis- 
covered a month ago that there was a minute red-bodied fly mixed with the wax or 
coming out of them. In connection with this cottony stuff I see a black worm cov- 
ered with spines or hairs. They are about three-sixteenths of an inch long, one- 
third as thick, and oval in shape. They get completely covered with the cottony 
stuff, and moving around on the tree look like a white ball. — [S. S. Harvey, Florida 
September 5, 1893. 
Reply. — This sending is of extreme interest, as the species is new to science and 
has never been written up in print. Curiously enough it appeared suddenly in Wash - 
ington upon a few young peach trees a little over a year ago. We have been unable to 
trace the origin of the scale, as these trees were grown from seed, and although a care- 
ful search has been made for other infested trees no result has been accomplished. We 
shall be very glad if you can offer any hints as to its origin with you. It belongs to 
the genus Diaspis, to which a number of scale insects which are very destructive 
also belong, notably the Rose and Blackberry Scale (Diaspis rosce). You are correct 
in supposing that this is the wrong time of the year to spray, since the eggs are at 
this time protected by the old scale of the female. These eggs will hatch, however 
early next spring, and the young unprotected larva? will migrate to the new growth 
of the trees. A spraying with kerosene emulsion at that time will destroy these young, 
and prevent the spread of the species and also further injury to the infested trees. 
The minute red-bodied flies are the males of the wingless scale-covered females. The 
cottony stuff is thready wax secreted by the insects. The small black worms cov- 
ered with spines are the young larva? of some lady-bird beetle which feeds upon the 
.scale insects. — [September 11, 1893. 
The Stink Bush as an Insecticide. 
I will now give in detail my experience with the " Stink Busk" and the facts 
which led me to suspect that it contained insecticides. During the winter of 1870- 
'71, Mr. F. Hinson, of Harrisville, passed me with a sack full of , the leaves from 
which he made decoction for destroying the lice on a colt. He told me afterwards 
that it was successful. Mr. W. I. Hilton, of Harrisville, as well as others, used the 
leaves for the same purpose. This summer I have tested the matter and am to-day 
satisfied that the leaves possess no insecticide properties. I have made four experi- 
ments. The result of the first was given July 1, and I had yours as a check, concern- 
ing which I will refer later. The second and third gave negative results. Fresh 
