The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-04-10

NdoHlilS tol, ApIu 1IL Tile
natural enemies of the woolly
white fly, pest which threatens
to overrun the entire citrus-pro-
ducing area of Florida, do not
shortly check its spread, growers
are urged by the United States
Department of Agriculture to re-
sort to spraying, known to be an
effective means of control. De-
partment entomologists, in a pub
lication just issued, Farmers Bull
letin 1011, "The Woolly White
Fly in Florida Citrus Groves"
tell how to make and apply the
spray, how to identify the pest,
and describe its habits and pres
ent distribution. Growers finding
the fly in their orchards are asked
to send a sample of infested
leaves to the State Experiment
Station at Gainesville or to the
Bureau of Entomology, United
States Department of Agriculture,
Washington.
How to Identify the Pest.
The woolly white fly is easily
recognized, because it is complete
ly enveloped in a white, wool-like
coat which it assumes in the larv-
al and pupal stages. Further
more, this fly is different from
others of its tribe in that the fe-
males lay their eggs in circles,
while the adults do not fold their
wings closely over their backs.
The larvae and pupae are sap
feeders and seriously impair the
fruit-producing power of the cit
rus groves. They exude large
Of honey dew which
collects in drops in their woolly
coats.
The presence OF the W0olly fly
favors the increase and propaga-
ton of the purple scale. The
woolly covering of the fly pro-
vides an ideal place under which
this scale insect hides and devel-
ops, protected from its natural en-
emies and from adverse weather
conditions such as drenching
rains. Trees once infected by the
woolly white fly must be watched
carefully for some time after the
white fly itself has ceased to cause
injury, as the purple scale COM
nences to breed under the debris !
of the old white-fy colonies and
here multiplies unhindered to
oont where it causes far greater
injury than the fly.
In controlling the woolly white
iy, the grower must watch closely
or the emergence Of the adult in
ect which commonly comes DUR
ng December and January, late
Nay, the latter part of July, and
n October and November. Short
y after the emergence of adults
he eggs deposited by the females
latch. The proper time to spray
s about Z to 10 days after a ma
ority of the adults of any genera
ion have disappeared and before
he young larvae have developed
heir protective, woolly covering.
Emulsions Best Spray
Oil emulsions, which use cheap,
lbricating oil or paraffin oil as a !
ase, are the most satisfactory ,
ontrols. In making the stock /,
fixture, place 6 to 8 pounds of !
sh-oil soap in 5-gallon recep- j
lcle and then slowly add 2 gal
ms of paraffin oil in small
of about 1 pint each,
;irring until the oil is mixed
thoroughly with the soap before
1ding more oil. After the re- {
lired amount Of oil has been c
lded and all free oil has disap-
cared from the top of the mix s
Ire, pour in water slowly about S
quart at a time. The only i'm O
ements required to make this I
'rmula in small quantities are an
'dinary pail and a paddle. ByI
lding one gallon Of this stock So t
tion to so gallons of water, the il
ray solution is formed contain t