The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-08
MAY BE SCALE AND NAY NOT NE.
Reports of the Agricultural Depart
ment on savannah Specimens.


The San Jose scale may exist in the
trees of Savannah, ana 1t may not. The
scientific experts of the department of ag-
riculture at Washington have failed to dis
cover this particular scale on branches of
trees sent them by the park and tree
commission, though at the time the speci-
mems were sent no particular inquiry was
made as to the San Jose scale. Before
the commission was relegated by the city
council into a state of innocuous desuetude
it was noticed that many OF the trees of
the city were diseased. Commissioner
Baldwin. by request of the commission,
made a selection OF cuttings from various
trees, which appeared TO be diseased, and
forwarded these cuttings to the depart
ment. The replies received from the d.
vision of entomology Of the department OF
agriculture will be of interest to lovers
of the trees. as showing to what extent
they are affected by the ravages OF in.
sects. The letters we're answered by Mr..
c. L. Marlatt, acting entomologist of the
department. In his first letter, Mr.. Mar
lett says:
The accompanying samples have been
examined and the insect affecting tulip
proves to be Siphonophora hriodendri the
common tulip louise, and the insect on the
elm is Schizoneura rileyi I am sending
you a number of publications which will
give you information relative to the injury
by these and other insects that are liable
to affect your shade trees. We will lie very
glad to receive specimens from you at any
time. and if you wish particular infor-
nation and advice which YOU cannot gain
from the literature submitted it will be
very cheerfully furnished"
In another letter in reference 10 insects
Mr.. Marlatt says
The specimens of the small beetle have
been received. 1t is a Tenebrionid known
scientifically as Alphitobius diaperinus.
It's habits are very similar to those of
the meal worms or flour beetles and here
in the north the species lives exclusively,
so far as we know, indoors, in greenhouses,
granaries, feed stores and similar loca-
tons. In warmer climates the insect
lives under bark and among waste Vege
table material. It could not possibly be
of any injury to the elm trees. If you
will make further search for the insects
affecting the root and bark of the elm. 1t is
possible we may be able to furnish you
with the information you desire concern
ing the best manner of Graduating these
insects. f3
The insect on the sycamore is one of the
so-called scale insects (Aspidiotus con-
vexus). To eXterminate this scale would
require the application of washes TO the
trees of a strong character and IL may
not be worth while to go to this trouble
and expense unless the scale is very abun-
dant and the trees are showing decided
signs of injury. If So the treatment re-
commended for the San Jose scale, or for
any of the scale insects, would be ap
plicable to this one as we'll"
Referring to specimens of insects sent
him, Mr.. Marlatt says
These have been examined, and prove
to be various hemipterous insects. chiefly
scale insects. The ones on red maple are
Puinaria innumerabilis and Aspidiotus
tenebricosus; on magnolia, Ormenis prui-
nosum, an insect of no special economic
importance; on sweet gum Westwoodia
species on the bark, and Aspidiotus species
on the leaves. The remedies for the scale
insects mentioned are the same as for
scale insects in general, on which you
already haye the data"
The loNe on haw is Schizoneura crata-
egi. The twig of water oak shows the
work of probably a Copturus. a genus of
Curculionid beetles but the insect was not
present The scale on magnolia is prob
ably Lecanum tulipiferae. The scale on
the leaves of the same plant is probably a
species of Chionaspis. The scale on the
sweet bay is a species Of Pulvinaria."
1t viii be noticed that Mr.. Marlatt did
not find the Aspidiotus Perniciosus, or
San Jose scale on the specimens sent him.
This does not prove, however. that the
scale does not exist here, and further
search Will be made by the park and tree
commissioners in order that its presence
may be made known If here.