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THE COMMON MEALY-BUG 
(Dactylopius citri Bd.) 
Everyone connected with green-houses or conservatories is 
familiar with the soft-bodied little bug that has a white fringe 
bordering its oval body and which takes its name from the 
mealy deposit with which it is covered. This little pest is one 
of the worst enemies to the florist and market-gardener. 
Although barely reaching one-eighth of an inch in length, it 
occurs in such numbers as to cause great injury to plants. 
The eggs of the mealy-bug are laid in a loose nest of sticky 
white fibres. The female usually remains on the nest until 
by its increase in size she is raised away from the plant, still 
clinging to it with the head depressed and the tail elevated in 
the air. When the eggs hatch, a young mealy-bug emerges, 
which, but for its smaller size, closely resembles the adult. 
The young females change very little exceptinsize; when they 
are about two-thirds grown, the winged males appear and copula- 
tion takes place, and soon after this the eggs are laid for thenext 
generation. Six weeks is the time ordinarily required to com- 
plete the cycle of life or from the time the eggs hatch till those 
of the next generation are hatched. 
Remedies. 
Mealy-bugs are well protected by the mealy covering, and 
as they choose plants that will not stand very harsh treatment, 
they are not easily combatted. In many instances, however, 
as on cucumbers, they may be dislodged by a strong jet of 
water. In case the plant is hardy enough not to be injured, a 
spray or dip of kerosene-emulsion (one part of emulsion to from 
seven to ten parts of water) will effectually check the insects. 
If scattered and not very plentiful, an alcoholic extract of py- 
rethrum (Persian insect powder) or buhach, applied with a. 
small atomizer, will prove very efficacious. * 
All these remedies have to be repeated at frequent intervals, 
and are consequently troublesome. No plant should be per- 
mitted to go into the green-house or conservatory before it is 
most thoroughly inspected. In this case an ounce of preven- 
tion is worth many pounds of cure. 
*The following was used with great success by Mr. Reid at Cornell University: 
alcohol, 200 ce.. buhach, 50 grams. It was allowed to stand, with occasional shaking 
for seven or eight days, then filtered and diluted about one-half with water. 
