Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-06-02
SAN JOSE SCALE.

tence, is living, moving propagating
insect, with complicated organism, by
means of which he works great destruc-
ton to fruit trees, roses, currants and
all similar growths.
To the casual observer, the Aspidiotus
perniciosus is very insignificant, and
might and does pass for a simple point
of discoloraton on the tempting fruit
you hold in your hand, ready to enjoy,
at the expense Of his life, for he cannot
survive a bath of gastric juice. Exam
inc the next lemon you buy, and if you
see little dark specks on its skin scrutin-
ize one of them under strong micro
scope, and you will see most formid-
able appearing siX-legged insect. If he
has wings he is male scale, and if with
out wings female.
This scale is a more important animal
than many imagine, as is shown by the
European prejudice against him. He
holds very high place in chronological
society.
Prof, L. 0. Howard, entomologist of
the United States department of agri-
culture, said, in speaking of him:
"Never in the history of economic
entomology in the United States has
single species of insect excited so much
interest as has the San Jose scale"
"This bane of orchards is a native of
Mexico and carries a Spanish name.
When the entomologists classified him
and added to his genus the word per-
niciosus they described him well, for he
is most pernicious. He has entered into
the United States, travelled over its en-
tire extent where fruit trees grow, and
has made his entry into Europe.
THE scale is the most prolific insect
in the world" said Prof. w. Benton
muller, entomologist at the American
museum Of natural history, when
asked about the little creature. 'He fol-
lows every line of travel where fruit
goes, soon gains Judgment, and begins
his destructive work on the trees. He
takes the life out of whatever he lives
on. He draws the juices from the trees,
and the result is that their fruits shrink
and finally they die.
HE is extremely difficult to get rid of,
for besides being very prolific he is
tenacious of life. If he once gains a
Judgement incessant work is necessary
to keep him from spreading with most
disastrous results. Here is a branch
where he has been working. You can
see how he has destroyed the bark by
sapping its life away. No tree can with
stand such treatment"
The female scale does not lay eggs,
but is viviparous, and her young are
fixed on the bark Of the tree they in
habit, and are at home in less than
day. Then they grow and wax strong,
and in a little more than a month are
parents themselves. This sort of thing
continues all summer and far into the
fall, and as the first progenitor and sue
ceeding generations are living all of this
time, the result is easily imagined.
What is the antidote? Many have
been suggested and recommended, but
with any it is constant battle to make
Roadway against the pests. There is
southern fungas called by the botanical
name of Sphaenostilbe coccophila,
which is said to be death to them and
not injurious to the tree. 1t produces
a disease from which the scales die.
Hydrocyanic acid gas as fumigator is
said to kill them, and kerosene oil used
as a wash is recommended as being
equally fatal. Then scalding hot water
is guaranteed to be sovereign remedy,
Any of these things is well enough If
you reach all of the insects, but if any
escape they will soon infest large or
chard.-N. Y. Herald.