Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-20

leerya purchase in California. The San
Jose scale, so destructive in the United
States, attracts so little attention
wherever it originally came from, that
we do not to this day know with any
certainty its original habitat. Species
closely allied to the San Jose scale,
natives Of the United States, are not
nearly so destructive. The red scale OF
the orange, Aspidlotus aurantii, In ia
maica never infests citrus fruits, but
occurs on lignum-vitae and palms; how
different are Its habits in California!
Ia Japan there is a scale almost ex-
hctly identical with the San Jose scale,
which infests citrus trees, which the
real San Jose scale never does in Amer
lea. Therefore, in view Of such facts as
these, we can fairly say that we never
know what we are in for, when We In
sroduce new scale. A traveller, bring
Ing little ornamental plant in a pot,
may unwittingly ruin great horti-
cultural industry. Most Of the worst
scales are general feeders, and are liza
bic to spread from garden or even hot
house plants to orchards.
Climatic barriers cannot always be
trusted. The rapid spread Of some
scale insects shows that hey can en-
dure great differences Of climate. While
the climatic barriers to the spread OF
some species are real and important,
It will not do to trust too much to them.
It Is probable that the very rapid Se-
production of coccidae enables them to
quickly adapt themselves to changes OF
climate, through the survival Of the 1T
test. Thus If there are million scales
In an orchard which is touched by frost,
II only one gravid female survives 1t
will suhice to eventually restock the
orchard, and with a comparatively
irost-proof race. Be this as 1t may, the
peach scale, Dlaspis amygdali, flourish
es equally at Washington, D. c., and in
the tropics; and many others could be
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 to
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 Gossy-
paria, the New York plum scale $50
called), the Lecanium bituberculatum,
etc. It must also be remembered that
semi-tropical scales may and unqnes-
tionably do, spread by way Of Europ-
can lighthouses; in this way, for ex-
ample, Orthezla 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 il 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
vet IN its 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
ander.