558 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 17 
ment with a marked overlapping of generations. Instead of a peak mi¬ 
gration of adult females to the trunks of the trees—a characteristic of 
this species of mealybug—in May and June, we have a more or less con¬ 
tinuous migration throughout the summer months. Starting with a 
rather well defined, though light generation in March, the increase in 
intensity is rapid and the generations are soon lost sight of due to over¬ 
lapping. A peak is reached about June 1st, which is maintained through¬ 
out the season or until control is established. 
Effect on the Host 
In passing along the road there is little external evidence of a some¬ 
times severe infestation of this species in an orchard with the exception 
of the presence of the usual “sooty mold” fungus developing in the 
exuded honey dew. A close examination of the infested trees, however, 
would show a heavy defoliation and killing of small wood in the interior 
of the trees. This condition late in the season might extend to the out¬ 
side of the tree though such a condition is exceptional as control is 
usually secured before the injury extends that far. 
Probably the most serious phase of an infestation of this species is the 
migration of the hatching young from the egg masses on the trunk in 
May and June to the stems of the young fruit which is just in the stage of 
“setting,” exaggerating an already serious seasonal field condition known 
as “June drop. ” This condition is further exaggerated on Valencia orange 
trees due to the fact that the previous season’s crop is still on the trees 
and the old fruit clusters hold adults and egg masses in close proximity 
to the newly setting fruit, insuring a higher percentage of young reaching 
it. In the case of severe infestations a large percentage of this new 
crop is lost before control can be established. Another avenue of loss in 
the case of Valencia oranges is through the collecting of individuals about 
the stems of mature fruit and through their feeding so weakening the 
stem that a heavy drop is caused. 
Though the greater part of the present infested acreage is planted to 
oranges, the lemons and the pomelo have demonstrated their suscepti¬ 
bility to the attacks of this pest with a similar form of injury. 
Relation to Ants 
Ants, particularly the Argentine Ant (Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr) 
are recorded by Woglum as being present without exception in every 
case of severe infestation. This may have been true at the time his 
