Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-04-02
: 5arm ann AonstboIo
Bark Lice.

correspondent writing to the Ne,r Eng
'd"f fdrfaer for cure for these trouble
some insects, receives the following ex-
position on their growth and habits. and a
recipe for their cure:
The insects which infest your rose bush
are bark lice of the genus Coccus, which al
80 includes the cochineale Of commerce.
Harris recommends as the best method of
destroying them. wash of two parts of
>o!i soap 10 eight Of water, with enough
lime mixed in to make a thick whitewash.
to be applied with n stiff brush. Strong
brine has also been used with success. If
you will carefully scrape of the scales and
wash with soapsuds. applied to your rose
bush with 4 sponge instead of the stiff
brush recommended for larger bushes or
trees we think You will soon observe
Your plant put on healthy appearance.
The following account of these insects
was prepared by Mr.. Harris. and publish
in the NEW ENGLAND FARMER several
years ago. Il refers to those found on the
apple and pear. but the habits Of all are
very similar.
Early ia the spring the bark lice are
found apparently torpid, situated longitu
d'nally in regar'! to the branch. the head
upwards, and sticking by their fattened
inferior surface closely to the bark. On
attempting to remove them they are cener-
ally crushed. and there ISSUES from the
body a dark-colored fluid. BY prickinc
them with pin. they can be made TO Quit
their hold. as have often seen in the COM
mon species, CoCcEs Hesperid,tB,, infesting
he myrtle. \ little later the body is
more ,welied, and, on carefully raising it
with knife. numerous oblong eggs will
be discovered beneath it. aud the insects
appears dried up and dead and only its
outer skin remains, which forms a convex
cover to its future progeny. Under this
protecting shield the Young are Matched.
and. on the approach of warm weather.
make their escape at the lower end of the
shield. which is either slightly elevated or
no'ehed at this pant. They then move
with considerable activity. and dispense
themselves over the Young shoots or
leaves.
The shape of the Young Coccus is much
like that of its parent but the BODY is OF
paler color and more thin and hattened.
II sX short legs and its slender beak are
visible under magnifer. Some are COW
cred with mealy powder, as the Coccus
Cac'i. or cOchineale of commerce, and the
CpceHS AdoR(iHm. or mcaly bug of our
greenhouses. Others are hairy or woollv
bat most OF them are naked and dark-colr
ored. These young lice insert their beaks
into the bark or leaves. and draw from the
cellular substance the sap that nourishes
them.
Reaumnr observed the ground quite
moist under peach trees infested with bark
lice, which was caused by the dripping Of
the sap from the numerous punctures
made by these insects. While they con-
tnue their exhaustins suction Of sap, they
increase in size. and during thi. time are
in what is called the larya state. When
this is completed. the insects viii be found
to be Of different magnitude, some much
larger than the others. and they then pre-
pare fora change that is about to ensue
in their mode of life, by emitting from the
under side of their bodies numerous little
white downy threads, which are fastened.
in radiated manner, around their bodies.
10 the bark, aud serve to coniine them
securely in their places. After becoming
thus fixed they remain apparently inanim.
ate; but under these lifeless scales the
transformation of the insect is conducted ::
with this remarkable difference, that in a
few days the large ones contrive 10 break
up and throw of, In four or five flakes.
their outer scaly coats, and re-appear in a
very similar form TO that which they be-
fore had the smaller ones, on the contrary,
serve instead of cocoons. and from which
they seem to shrink and detach them selves.
aud then become perfect pupa, the rudi-
ments of wings, antenna, feet. &C.. being
discoverable on raising the shells.
III We follow the progress of these small
lice. which are to produce the males, we
shall see, in process of time, pair of
threads and the tips of the wings protru-
ding beneath the shell at its lower elevat-
ed part. and through this little fissure
the perfect insect at length backs out AZ
ter the larger lice have become fixed. and
have thrown off their outer coats, they
enter upon the pupa or chrysalis state,
which continues for longer or shorter
period, according to the species, But when
they have become mature, they do not
leave the skins or shells covering their
bodies. which continue flexible for a time,
These larger insects are the females. and
are destined to remain immovable. and
never change their place alter thew once
become stationary. The male is exceed
ingly small in comparison to the female,
and is provided with only two wings,
which are usually very large, and lie fatty
on tie top of the body.
After the insects have pared, the body
of the female increases in size, or becomes
quite convex. for 8 time, and ever AFTER
wards remains without alterations; blu:
serves to shelter the eggs which are to
give birth to her future offspring. These
eggs, when mutured. pass under the body
of the mother, and the latter by degrees
shrinks more and more, till nothing is left
bs,t the dry outer convex skin. and the