The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-05-21

lcerya purchase in California The san
Jose scale, so destructive in the uhlteu
States, attracts so little attention
wherever it originally came from, that
we do not to this day know Win any
certainty it's original habitat. Species
closely allied to the San Jose scale,
natives of the United States, are not
nearly so destructive. The red scale VI
he orange, Aspidiotus aurantii, IN ia
maica never infests citrus fruits pul
occurs on lignum-vitae and palms; now
different are its habits in Calllorhia'
In Japan there Is a scale almost eA-
actly identical with the San Jose scare
which infests citrus trees, when the
real San Jose scale never does In Amer
Ca. Therefore, in view of such facts as
.hese, we can fairly say that we never
know what we are in for, when we III
.roduce a new scale. A traveller, bring
ing a little ornamental plant In pot
may unwittingly ruin a great horti-
cultural industry. Most OF the worst
scales are general feeders, and are Ia
BILE to spread from garden or even not-
house plants to orchards.
Climatic barriers cannot always De
trusted The rapid spread OF some
scale insects shows that hey can en-
iure great differences of climate. WINE
the climatic barriers to the spread OF
some species are real and important,
it will not do to trust too much to tneh'
It is probable that the very rapid re
production of coccidae enables them 10
quickly adapt themselves to changes Oh
climate, through the survival OF the NJ
test. Thus if there are million scales
in an orchard which is touched by frost'
if only one gravid female survives II
will suffice to eventually restock the
orchard, and with a comparatively
frost-proof race Be this as it may, the
peach scale, Diaspls amygdali, flourish
es equally at Washington, d. c., and IN
the tropics; and many others could De
cited which endure great differences
of climate in different parts OF their
range.
1t will now be useful to consider the
countries from which we are liable 10
be infested. From Europe we may ex-
pect many pests of shade trees and de-
ciduous fruit trees especially. For ex-
ample, we have already received the
maple Phenacoccus, the elm Cosy
paria,' the New York plum scale $50
called, the Lecanium bituberculatum,
etc. 1t must also be remembered that
semi-tropical scales may and unqles-
tionably do, spread by way of Europ-
can hot-houses; in this way, for ex-
ample, Orthezia insignis, destructive
West Indian species, was undoubtedly
introduced into Ceylon.
From the West Indies and Mexico
countries we may expect especially
pests of citrus fruits, of cotton, sugar
cane, etc.; also the peach scale, Diaspis
amygdali, which has already reached
this country. A further exploration OF
Mexico and most of the West Indian
islands is urgently needed, to determine
the kinds of insect pests there occur
ring. From Japan, perhaps, we stand
In most danger. The climatic condi-
lions permit the growth Of the same
species of fruit trees as are grown in
America, and of late Japanese varieties
have become very popular, and have
been imported in quantity. The peach
scale, Diaspis amygdali, is common In
Japan, and there are many other In
furious species. Unfortunately, our
knowledge Of Japanese scale insects Is
yet in it's infancy, and someone ought
to be sent there for year to study the
subject on the spot. Some injurious
species may also come from Australia
New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands,
and in fact any place whence plants
are brought. Especial care should be
taken to prevent the introduction OF
Asterolecanium pustuslans from the
Sandwich Islands; 1t already exists in
Florida. and is common also in the
West Indies. 1t especially infests ole
onHnr