People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1897 — THE SAM JOSE SCALE: [ARTICLE]

THE SAM JOSE SCALE:

Aspidiotus Perniciosus (Comstock) There are many species of scale insects which infest fruit and ornamental plants to a greater or less extent, but of all those known to the entomologist at the present time, the San Jose scale is the most to be dreaded on account of its destructive character, the rapidity with which it increases and the difficulty with which it may be eradicated when once it has become established. It has been only a few years since this pest was introduced in to some of the nurseries of the eastern States from California through the carelessness of one or two nursery men in not thoroughly disinfecting the stock sent out. From these nurseries it has been widely scattered, and recent investigations i have shown that it is already j present in a number of orchards in Ohio and Illinois, brought there by shipments of trees from these infested nurseries; and we lave no reason to suppose that hese shipments of trees have □een any less frequent in Indiana than in these adjacent states. In fact it has already been found in some of the southern Indiana counties, and unless vigorous measures are adopted very soon the loss to the fruit growers of this state from this cause must necessarily be very great. Judging from the many specimens of scale infested branches received by the Experiment Station during the past season, it is very evident that but little is known concerning this scale by the fruit growers of Indiana in general.

The San Jose scale is much smaller and of a different shape, the female being nearly circular in outline, than the oyster shell or bark louse, while the other mentioned are readily distinguished by the naked eye. As already stated this pest; becomes distributed by means of nursery stock which is sent from one state or locality to another. ' It is also spread locally by being carried by the wind and on the feet of birds, etc., so that if but a single tree is infested at the time of planting, so great is its reproductive power, it may soon spread until the entire orchard is infested. It has been ascertained that the progency of a single season, may amount to more than three billions of individuals. Thus it will be seen that the greatest care should be exercised in this matter, not only by the nurserymen, but by each individual planter. As a father precaution and as a matter of self protection Indiana should follow the example of Ohio and Illinois in passing a law making the sale or offering for sale, or harboring trees or plants infested with this or other noxious inscets a misdemeanor punishable by a suitable fine. It should be placed in the hands of a competent entomologist who will see that the law is inforced. James Troop, Horticulturist, Purdue University. ’