INSECTS AFFECTING GREENHOUSE 
A N D , . R N A M E N T A L PLANTS. 
COTTONY-, CUSHION SCALE' ( icerya p nrchasi Mask.) 
Mississippi. C. Lyle (February 23): On December 29. a corre- 
spondent at Hattiesburg reported that Nandina and rose 
"bushes, on her property were infested. 
Arizona. C D. Lebert (February): A small infestation of 
' the cottony-cushion scale was found on Pittpsporum 
tobira in a nursery at Phoenix, some of the plants "being 
heavily infested. All stages of the insect were present. 
MEALYBUGS ( Pssudococcus spp.) 
Nebraska. M. H. Swenk (February 20): Mealybugs were reported 
to be infesting a fern in Custer County on December 1. 
Utah. G. F. Knowlton (February 23): Complaints of mealybug 
injury to household ornamental plants have recently been 
received from Roosevelt, Salt Lake City, Brigham, and 
Logan. 
A FIRE ANT ( Solenopsis xyloni McCook) 
Mississippi. C. Lyle (February 23): On February 15 a. corre- 
spondent at Dorsey in Itawamba County reported that ants 
were ruining his hotbed, and a correspondent at Crawford, 
in Lowndes County, reported that they were abundant 
around her violets, roses, and other ornamentals. From 
descriptions, S. xyloni was evidently the species present 
in each case. 
THRI PS ( Thy san op t e ra ) 
Virginia. H. G. Walker and L. D. Anderson (February 25): 
Thrips are rather abundant and are causing considerable 
damage in a greenhouse near Norfolk. 
FICKLE MIDGE (Sciara inconstans Fitch) 
Nebraska. M. H. Swenk (February 20) : This insect was bother- 
ing house plants in Sheridan County on December 6 and in 
Hooker County on January 6. 
