The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-10-27
of scales occur, but these are sufficient
for our present purpose.

of scales occur, but these are suInclent
for our present purpose.
After the female reaches maturity
the process of oviposition begins.
The eggs are laid under the scale,
the body of the female gradually
diminishes in size as the eggs are laid
thus making room for them.
A word more respecting the devel-
onment of the male. In the group
of scale insects which ! am now con-
siderinc the male scale can be dlstln-
guished by it's small size and the fact
that but a single skin is moulted in
the course of It's formation. When
the male bark louise attains its growth
it changes to pupa with rudimentary
legs and wings; later it undergoes
another change, and energies from
under the scale an active little crea-
ture furnished with long legs and
antennse and two large but very
delicate wings. It's mouth and It's
appendages have disappeared and IN.
their place has become developed a
second pair of eyes. OF course no
nourishment can be taken during tins
stage of it's existence, and its energies
| are devoted solely to the perpetual
ton of its kind.
A SECOND GROUP OF SCALE INSECTS
A second group OF scale insects
differs from that just described IN
that the species do not excrete
seale.like covering, composed in part
OF moulted skins, and the females
preserve their legs and antenn@
throughout lite. The form of the
body Of the female, however, usually
changes greatly after impregnatlo,n'
Of many species OF this group the
! males are unknown, but in all the
cases where they are known they are
winged, as in the first group. The
most familiar representation OF this
group are the "black scale, "or "brown
scale of this coast, and the "sott
scalen of Florida. With the black
scale, after impregnation the body
of the females much thickened and
elevated, assuming the well known
characteristic torn. After that the
sides and back of the insect become
much hardened, and the minor part
| shrinks away from the plant as the
eggs are laid. Thus there is formed
a cup.like she'll, or "scale," which
covers the egg and newly Matched
Young. 1t should be borne IN mind
that this escalen is the hardened body
| of the dead or dying female, and not
anexcretlon separated from the body
of the insect. This point is Of prac-
tical importance, for it is easier to
DESTROY a naked insect chan one
which is furnished with waterproof
covering like that OF the scales OF the
first group:
| A THIRD GROUP OF SCALE BUGS.
In the third group of scale insects
the females change very little IN
form during their entire life, and DO
not become fixed in one place. The
male was winged, as in other groups
of coccids. The mealy bugs, so COM
mon in lighthouses, and the cochi neal
insect, are the best known exaplmes
of this group.
THE FORMS OF SCALE BUGS OCCUR
ING ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
These few remarks will give a
General idea of the natural history of
this family of insects. Now as TO the
forms which occur on this coast. Up
TO this time l have studied fifteen
species which infest cultivated plants
in sufficient numbers to prove inJurl-
Gus. These will be described at
length, with others occurring In the
East, in report which | am prepar-
ing for the Department OF Agriculture
The most common species OF this
State is the 'black scale" which is
yery abundant on citrus trees and
olives. and also infest many other
plants, including the deciduous fruits
This agrees with descriptions OF a
common European species-Lecd'a-
lam ole@-and persume will prove
to be the same. 1t this be true, the
species was doubtless brought from
Europe on citron trees. Another
very important species is that known
as the ''red scale" This is as yet
undescribed. l have, however, In
manuscript, ready tor publication, a
description, including figures OF dit
ferent stages and both sexes. There
is abundant proof that this species
was introduced from Australia. These
two examples are sufficient to show
the danger of introducing pernlcious
pests with exotic plants. The same
thing has happened in Florida. AL
though the two species just mentioned
do not occur in that State, one very