The herald., 1893-10-09
A PLAYED-0UT PEST.
THE LITTLE JAPANESE FLY AND
THE YELLOW SCALE.
How the Scale and the Fly Came into
the San Gabriel vsiisy-rhe
Rcd Scale stili Dy-
ing Out.

The experts are still in doubt Sc to
what it is that is destroying the red
ecale upon the fruit trees around Los
Angeles.
The work of determination is still
going on rapidly, and it will not be long
before the red scale takes its place with
the white or cottony custom scale as
played-out pest.
Additional inspection OF orchards
since those described in the HERALD
several days ago showed the same
wholesale destruction of the scale, on
fruit and leaves, as before observed. and
without any perceptible cause.
The disease of the scale, or whatever it
may be, is spreading throughout addi-
tional orchards, and the orchardists are
as much elated as when the vedalia
cardinals began to clean out the white
scale.
Mr.. Alexander Craw, quarantine off,
Ger OF the etate board OF horticulture,
who is now in the city, has not yet
made an examination of the eipgular
phenomenon, but is inclined to the be.
lief tnat the cause of the destruction OF
the red scale is due to the fungus
growths from Australia sent over by
Professor Koebele. Shipments OF differ
ent kinds of fungoids we're made to this
section and were placed on trees in this
city by Professor Coquillett.
| 1t is very we'll authenticated fact
that in Australia and the Fiji islands
there are several varieties OF fungoids
which are an effective destroyer OF both
! the red and black scale.
The red scale in this vicinity act very
much as when attacked by the fungoids
in the countries mention.
1t was stated several days ago in
describing the disappearance of the red
scale that it was noticeable, not only in
Los Angeles but in the San Grpriel val
ley, but mistake was made in charac-
terizing the scale in the San Gabriel
valley which has been DESTROYED as red
scale.
1t is in reality yellow scale and is
very voracious in it's attacks upon fruit
trees. The destruction of this peat has
been accomplished. but not by fungus
growth or any of the ladybirds about
which so much has been said.
The yellow scale was brought from
Japan, and the history of it's introduce
tion and destruction is an interesting
one.
1t was first discovered on the L. ].
Rose rancho, upon trees that had been
imported from Japan. 1t spread rap
idly, and found fat home in the ORCH
ards of the San Gabriel valley. Ali the
known methods Of cleaning fruit trees
were tried, but with little effect in ex-
terminating the malicious pest.
| For long time it was not thought to
be nything but the regular red scAle,
and Mr.. Craw was the first person to
notice the difference between it and the
red scale. 1t was named by him aspi-
dotus citrinus, and added one more to
the long list of the vexstious foes of the
orchardists.
Singularly enough as time went on
and and the yellow scale spread there
appeared little chalcid fly, beautiful,
diminutive creature, which set to work
on the yellow ecafe. 1t was not noticed
for come time and bred quietly but Sc
curely 60 that it's work began to be OBJ
served. II left holes in the scale where
1t emerged after having committed fatal
depredAtions inside, and gradually the
yellow scale began TO have very much
such an experience as is now going on
with the red scale.
ticulture was called to tie fly, and where
it came from was great puzzle to the
experts.
Finally shipment of trees arrived
from Japan, and upon examination the
quarantine officer discovered that they
were injected with the yellow scale, the
same which had created havoc in the
trees OF the San Gabriel valley.
The trees were held in quarantine,
and as a result of experiments, the same
little chalcid fly which had preyed upon
the scale developed, and established the
fact that Japan had sent q scale pest to
us, and had sent its sntidote along with
it. 1t is not every country that has
been so thoughtful. The fly was named
cocophagus citrinds. In spite of this
formidable cognomen it continues to ex-
terminate the yellow scale in the San
Gabriel valley. The work has been 60
ing on contemporaneously with that by
the fungoid, or whatever it 10, On the
red scale in Los Angeles and vicinity.
There is very little difference between
the two scales to the eye of the unprac
ticed, but those familiar with bug lore
can detect the points OF variance and
slight difference in the colors. A great
many persons who do not know this
difference have been accustomed to con-
iusiDg the two, but they are distinct
species of pests.
So effective has been the work Of the
chalcid fly that the trees of the San
Gabriel valley are very nearly rid OF this
Japanese importation.
Fruit growers are very much encour-
aged by the effective assistance rendered
by all these agencies in fighting the enc
mics OF their trees.
| aafatv from a Periodic Scourga.