Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-22
THE APPLE SCALE INSECT.

We last fall noticed the ravages of an
apple scale insect in the orchards about San
Jose. We have now to record the fact that
this little bat very destructive insect has made
its appearance in the orchards in this vicinity.
To discover the insect itself requires close
examination by those who know what they
are looking for, but its effects are observable
by the most casual observer. This particular
oyster-shell bark-louse to naturalists, but
its scientific OF classical name is asphidi0tas
eonckifor7nts. Both these names have been
given to the insect on account of the resem-
blence of the form of the scale to the oyster
she'll. 1t makes itself at home on the pear,
plum and currant, as well as on the apple.
The scale may be seen on the bark by the
naked eye, and a good eye will distinguish
the insect itself when the scale is removed,
and even the eggs, but to determine its form
and watch its movements and operations,
pretty powerful glass is required. The
eggs are laid on the new wood bark or under
the outer leaves or scales of the bark of the
older wood, and within scale which at the
same time covers the female insect. The
eggs are Matching and the young insects are
now spreading over the trees of the orchards.
Under each scale, as the product of each fe-
male, are from ten to one hundred eggs. The
insect, when it first matches, is nearly white,
with little of the orange or red hue. The
insect itself, when full-grown, is about half
an inch long. When Matched, each insect
settles down in a good place on the tender
or juicy bark and begins the business of its
hfe-the getting living by sucking the sap
from the bark Of the twig or limb on which
it settles. AS it sucks and grows it exudes
from its body waxy secretion Of light
yellowish color, which assumes brownish
gray color with age This secretion
forms the scale or covering of the
insect and gives it its name. Immedi-
ately around the scale, the bark, if
on young thrifty grown twig, seems to be in
dented slightly and TO assume a reddish or
red-brown color-an evidence of the loss Of
sap, checking of the ife-blood of the tree.
Though each single insect can do but very
little harm, and that only in its immediate
vicinity, when the numbers increase, as I'M
molested they surely will on any tree they
have secured lodgment on, they rob the tree
of so much of its sap as to materially check
its growth. and finally to kill it COM
pletely. The limbs of the affected tree
begin to die, one by one, those upon
which the insects are most numerous
going first. till the whole tree gives up the
ghost for want of blood. The female insect
seems to live entirely under the scale which
she forms over her and to deposit her eggs in
the cavity she occupies herself. As she lays
her eggs her own body grows less in size, till
she seems all to have turned into eggs and to
have simply dried or shriveled up to nothing,
leaving her eggs in her place. The male, on
the contrary, emerges from the scale with lit
tie bright, shining wings, so unlike the fe-
male in appearance that you would
not recognize them as belonging to
the same. family. On, account of the
resinous nature of The scale covering these
little pests it is difficult to destroy them, ex-
cept at the season of the year when the eggs
are Matching and before the little fellows have
gone into camp or settled down to real bust
ness. At this time of year good execution
may be done ia their destruction. Weak lie,
made from teaching ashes, strong soap-suds
and tar-water have all been used with good
results, but fsh-oil soap is undoubtedly one
of the best exterminators of this as well as of
most other insects that infest our orchards.