291 
indeed, it can be eradicated from the localities in which it has obtained 
a foothold. There can be little question that it is a West Indian species, 
and that it has been brought into this country by some of the southern 
importers of West Indian and other tropical and sub-tropical plants, 
and the Thomas ville (Ga.) nurseryman above mentioned is open to at 
least a strong suspicion of the responsibility, whether direct or indirect. 
The fact that it thrives as far north as the District of Columbia adds 
to the seriousness of the case and to the great desirability of eradicat- 
ing the species upon its first appearance in any one locality. It is in 
the hope of helping to bring about such a consummation that we have 
given this extended notice with illustrations of the species in this 
article. Proper measures have been taken to stamp it out at Wash- 
ington, and the correspondents in Florida and Georgia have been urged 
to do likewise. Nevertheless it seems to us that it has already 
obtained such a foothold as to make it highly improbable that it will 
be eradicated. It multiplies with surprising rapidity, since, as we shall 
presently see, there are from three to four generations annually at 
Washington. 
Life History. — When the insect was first discovered, in December, 
1892, the lower halves of the trunks of the young peach trees were 
more or less completely covered with male scales, while the female 
scales mainly occupied the trunk in its upper half. In March the 
female scales were examined and the eggs were plainly seen within 
their bodies by transmitted light. By the end of April they were 
found to be full of eggs which appeared to be perfectly developed, 
although none had been deposited upon April 24. Upon May 5 ovipo- 
sition had begun, and upon May 13 tke young larvse were hatching by 
thousands. At this time experiments were made to ascertain whether 
these larvse would settle upon Eose. A potted rose, free of scale, was 
tied to a badly infested peach tree, but none of the young scales 
migrated to it, although it was examined for ten days or more. The 
larvaB developed irregularly, and by May 23 some were already twice 
as large as others, and all seemed to be covered more or less densely 
with glistening white threads, while a few had begun to form a delicate 
scale. By May 26 a few had cast their first skin. By June 15 the 
females had cast their second skin, while the male scale was fully 
formed and most of the male larvae had transformed to the pupa state, 
a few having already become winged. The next day many males 
issued. About the end of June oviposition began again, and the females 
attained full size at the middle of August, egg laying for the third 
time beginning at the end of August. Another brood developed at the 
end of October. 
Natural Enemies. — No parasites have as yet been bred from this spe- 
cies, and but one predaceous insect has been seen feeding upon it. 
Late in the fall of 1893 a number of adult specimens of the Twice- 
stabbed Ladybird (Chilocorus bivulnerus) were seen gnawing into the 
adult female scales at Washington. 
