304 Report oF THH DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY OF THB 
tony fibres loosely woven together. This first covering is very 
delicate and can be easily removed. The scales under obser- 
vation showed a variation in the time of the first appearance of 
the white secretion of from 6 to 24 hours, but in all cases when 
the young scales were kept in a warm room or the insectary this 
stage was reached within 24 hours after the laryee had settled 
down. ‘The secretion of the filaments is normally quite rapid, as 
the larvee were usually completely covered with them within six 
or eight hours after they first appeared. Plate XLVIII, Fig. 2. 
The tufted stage—At the beginning of this stage a denser layer 
of waxy threads is seen projecting from beneath the loose threads 
over the margin of the body. This is the true scale. As the 
insect increases in size this portion of the scale is enlarged. The 
loose white filaments form a central tuft which in many cases 
becomes three or four times the diameter of the scale, as shown 
at Plate XLVIII, Fig. 3. The true scale soon begins to turn dark 
passing through several shades of dirty gray until it becomes 
nearly black. The tuft grows smaller slowly, probably weather- 
ing away, until it finally disappears, leaving a crater-like depres- 
sion at the apex of the scale. Plate XLVIII, Fig. 4 and Plate 
XLIX, Fig. 4; the small scale on the left. 
The black stage-—This stage is characterized by the dull black 
color of the scale and usually at first by the crater-like depression 
at or near its apex, which is later filled by the nipple. It begins 
when the white tuft has disappeared. During this stage the scale 
becomes thicker and its texture is more compact than at any 
previous time. In the latitude of New York State the insect 
hibernates in this stage, hence its duration varies greatly with 
the time of year. Plate XLVIII, Fig. 5. . 
The mature stage—As the insect grows the scale is enlarged 
by the secretion of the white waxy fibres which may often be 
seen projecting from beneath the scale as shown at Plate XLVIII, 
Fig. 6. This white mass soon turns dark, usually a dull dirty 
gray, and forms a large part of the scale. The mature scale is 
characterized by its comparatively large size, the prominent, | 
usually central, nipple and the light-yellowish areas caused by 
