American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-03

fore moving. In few days they become
fixed to the tree, and white, waXy Sc
cretion commences to issue from the
body in the shape of fine threads. This,
at first sight, appears to be the body of the
insect, and becomes yellowish- brown
color; but upon removing this carefully
the body will be found underneath and
separate. After three such growths the
scale assumes the regular oyster-shell
shape. Upon removing the scale the in
sect will be found securely fastened to the
tree by slight whitish fringe. and occu-
pies only half the space within.
The time taken for this process is usual
ly about two months, and, if the scales are
then lifted, the insect will be discovered
in the act of laying its eggs. During the
progress the parent louise shrinks away,
until, when all the eggs are deposited, she
can scarcely be distinguished at all. As
many as 100 eggs are often found under
one scale Since only one brood is pro-
duced annually, the eggs remain under
the scale from the time of deposition I'M
til the following June, exposed to the
warmth of the fall months as well as the
continual freezing and thawing of winter,
and yet their vitality is unimpaircd.
The question has often arisen, How can
this insect spread from place to place and
from tree to tree since the female bark
louise is only capable of motion for the
first three or four days, and for the rest of
her life is firmly fixed to the tree.
One very plausible way is by the trans
porting of young trees from one place to
another, the scales being already upon
the tree. Another is, since the insects
themselves are very light they are often
borne from place TO place by the winds
during the few days they are capable of
travelling. Often, in large orchard, the
branches overlap each other and the in
sects migrate from one tree to another.
Though belonging naturally to the apple
tree it is often found upon the pear, cur
rant and plum.
The damage done by one of these
small insects by the absorption of sap can
not be perceived upon the hard bark of
the tree; but when found on the soft bark
and when the entire trunk and limbs of
small trees are covered the general dam
age Is very grcat-oftcn killing the tree
entirely in three or four years.
There arc some natural enemies which
prove very destructive to this insect A
small maggot is sometimes found under
the scale, the larv;e of some Hymenopti
nous insect, which destroys the eggs of the
louise. A small mite has also been fOunC
destroying the insect himself as well as
the eggs, and has proven so efficient in
some orchards as to entirely extcrminatt
the barklousc.
One of the lady birds (Chilocorus bivul
nerus, Muls) has proven itself very use
full in destroying both kinds of bark
louise, and is equally voracious in Tho
larval form.
A good way to exterminate the bark
louise is by placing several of these insects
upon the infested tree. 1t is easily recog
niZed by its polished black color and tho
blood-rcd spot on each wing case. Whcr
planting out an orchard, it is very i'm
pOrtant that the young trees be carefully
searched, and, if any of the scales arr
found, they can be removed by scrapins
| the bark. Since the eggs are so well pro
| tccted, all alkaline washes are of no avail
as they do not penetrate. and those of al
oily nature are apt to injure the tree
Hence, the only time the bark-louse eau
be successfully fought is during the few
| days they are crawling over the limbs
and then the danger is that the washe.
used will destroy the foliage and fruit.
AS they adhere only to the more tcnde
limbs of the tree, they can only be eifectu
ally reached by the use of a syringe o
spraying instrument. Chrysalic- sOal
is also strongly recommended. 1t will b.
necessary, however, TO repeat the wash, a
the lice do not all hatch ut once, though
| the time seldom extends over three days
I-CHtctg0 Tribune, June 81.