46 
March, 1891. 
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two sexes often differ widely from each 
other. The mature insects usually retain a 
form somewhat similar to the larval stage. 
The common “mealy bug" is known among 
entomologists as Dactylopius adonidum 
Sign. The larva, etc., of this species varies in 
size according to its age. The males have 
seven-jointed antenna?. The mature insect 
is of a brown color which becomes darker 
as the insect grows older. “From the last 
segment of the abdomen extend two long 
threads of white cottony matter secreted by 
n u mer ou s rounded long pores. ” The female 
is from one-tenth to twelve-hundredths 
of an inch long and is of a whitish, or white 
slightly tinged with yellow color; while the 
antenna? and legs are darker in appearance. 
From numerous small pores which open 
along the sides of the body there is thrown 
out a whitish substance resembling flour or 
meal, hence the name “Mealy bug.” Often 
the amount of this secretion will be suffi- 
cient to entirely cover the insect, thus serv- 
ing as a screen which assists in protecting 
it from the minute parasites which prey 
upcn it. This mealy substance also serves 
as a place for the concealment of the eggs of 
future generations. 
Another species Dactylopius destructor 
Comstock, is common in green-house and 
upon house plants. It is of a light olive 
brown color, and has reddish antennae. It 
is frequently found upon all varieties of 
plants. Usually mealy bugs are found on 
the under side of the leaves of the plant, 
and generally near the midrib, where a 
lateral vein starts out. 
Mealy bugs, like most insects, have their 
natural enemies in the form of four-winged 
“flies.” These small parasites aid greatly 
in checking the ravages of these pests, and 
were it not for them our green-houses would 
be overrun. The artificial remedies, insect- 
icides, recommended are numerous. The 
kerosene emulsion — the method of preparing 
it was fully described in the February num- 
ber of Orchard and Garden — is perhaps 
the best and most economical remedy. 
This should, however, be used with caution 
upon the tender plants. Kerosene often 
injures the foliage to such an extent that 
the plants are destroyed. When the emul- 
sion is used it should be diluted so that not 
ess than one-twentieth is kerosene, and 
i this should be used sparingly. The kerosene 
extract of pyrethrum will undoubtedly 
prove valuable, as the amount of kerosene 
used is so small that there can be no injury 
to the foliage. Hand picking has been 
practiced with success. Another preparation 
used is a mixture of soap, water, and a 
small amount of fir tree oil. This may be 
applied with a camel’s hair brush, and is 
quite successful. Too much of the oil 
should not be used or the foliage may be 
injured the same as with the kerosene 
emulsion. In the destruction of these bugs 
it is not necessary to spray or treat the 
entire plant unless the insects are very 
numerous. An application with a small 
atomizer or brush to the affected part is 
sufficient, 
Plant Lice or Aphis on Lettuce and 
Radishes. 
During the winter season those who grow 
lettuce and radishes under glass are troubled 
with the aphis or “green fly.” From their 
habits of reproduction they increase rapidly, 
and within two or three days will entirely 
overrun a green-house. The plants are 
often so thick in the beds that the smoke 
will not reach them when tobacco is burned 
in the house. In such cases a practical 
remedy is found in the use of pyrethrum or 
insect powder. One ounce mixed with four 
gallons of water, and then applied to the 
plants in the form of a spray is productive 
of good results. This winter the forcing 
houses at this College were completely over- 
run by the “green fly.” The beds of lettuce 
and radishes were almost entirely destroyed 
by this little pest. Smoke seemed to have 
no effect, but after an application of the 
pyrethrum water they were soon killed. 
The application was repeated the second 
day so as to destroy any that might have 
escaped the previous application. The effect 
was marvelous. Within forty-eight hours 
the plants were free from the plant lice. 
One of the most essential features in the 
application of an insectide is to be thorough. 
The apparatus used should have sufficient 
force to throw the liquid upon the plants so 
that all parts are treated. In the case of 
the pyrethrum water one need not fear 
injuring the plants, as it is perfectly harm- 
less to vegetation, Too much of the liquid 
can not be used, and the work can not be 
done any too thoroughly. The amount 
used and the thoroughness with which it is 
applied often determine the success of the 
insecticide. 
The Apple Maggot. 
Prof. F. L. Harvey, in the annual report 
of the Maine Experiment Station, publishes 
some interesting facts, hitherto unknown, 
in connection with the apple maggot (Try- 
petu pomonella). He says : “The flies begin 
to deposit their eggs in the early fruit by 
July 1st, or earlier, and egg laying continues 
until the flies are on the wing. Each female 
is capable of laying, at least, between three 
and four hundred eggs, which are inserted 
from time to time, one in a place, by means 
of a sharp ovipositor through the skin of 
the apple. The eggs are vertically inserted 
into the pulp of the apple, with the end 
The Fly and Pupa of the Apple Maogot. Fig 1611. 
opposite the pedicle, which contains the 
head of the maggot, pointing towards the 
core. The eggs are deposited in all parts 
of the apple, usually upon the cheeks, spar- 
ingly near the calyx and stem ends, and 
more abundantly upon the pale or shaded 
side of the fruit.” 
The remedies suggested are to destroy all 
windfalls and refuse material in boxes and 
barrels that have contained infested fruit. 
The windfalls may be fed to stock or des- 
troyed in some other manner. There are 
no insecticides that can be used against this 
pest. These insects are also found in the 
wild thorn apples, from which we have 
reared numerous specimens. 
Buhach. 
In your Insect Department of Orchard 
and Garden for February I notice the 
statement that Buhach, Pyrethrum and Per- 
sian Insect Powder, the insect powder of 
the shops, are synonymous terms. If this 
means only that they are all manufactured 
from plants of the genus Pyrethrum it is cor- 
rect, but if it is intended to convey that these 
articles are identical in quality, it is very 
far from being correct. My attention was 
called to Bubach by the editor of Orchard 
and Garden several years ago, and he 
assured me that it was not only much su- 
perior to Persian Insect Powder, but a 
positive specific for certain insects ; we 
could not, however, find it for sale, and 
have not been able to do so until last spring, 
when we obtained two pounds from the 
manufacturers in California, and afterwards 
bought a thirty-six pound case from their 
agent in New York. We had previously 
tried Persian Insect Powder and had not 
been satisfied with it, but we tested Buhach 
in various ways and supplied it to others to 
test, and it invariably did all that was 
claimed for it. Mixed with flour in the 
proportion of 1 to 52, it killed the slugs of 
the Colorado Potato Beetle in a few minutes 
and a small quantity of the clear powder 
dusted over the hair of dogs and cats, and 
rubbed in, brought down the fleas almost 
instantly. Our poultrymen found it to 
effectually destroy the small hen lice, some- 
times called mites, which so often infest 
the nests and roosts of fowls. We gave 
some to a market man, and he said he had 
just been using Insect Powder, obtained 
from two drug stores, to kill off the flies, 
and both had entirely failed, although one 
of the druggists was so confident of his 
goods that he offered to take it back after it 
was used and swept up again, if it did not 
prove effectual. This man not onlv told us 
that Buhach did the business for the flies 
promptly and thoroughly, but came for 
more several times in the course of the 
season. Just why Buhach is so much 
superior to other Pyrethrum powders I can 
not say, but it is made from one particular 
variety of Pyrethrum, and we learn that it 
is necessary to use great care in drying it, 
and that even a little dew falling upon it 
while drying materially injures it ; and 
this company put up all their goods in tight 
tin cans. They do not, however, offer it at 
any r such figure as named in Orchard and 
Garden, even by the hundred pounds, and 
those who buy at thirty cents per pound 
will most certainly not get the genuine 
article.— W m. F. Bassett- 
