OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEALY BUG, PHENATACOCCUS ACERIS SIG.

Abstract

In the Canadian Entomologist, August, 1935, the writer presented a short life-history of the mealy bug, Phenacoccus aceris Sig. Since the preparation of the above paper, further interesting observations have been recorded.The female nymphs emerge from the winter cocoons and disseminate over the tree to feed, considerably earlier in the spring than was originally suppsed. When visiting an infested orchard near -Annapolis Royal on March 20, 1935, the writer was surprised to find that the females were already feeding in small numbers on the fruit spurs. An estimate of the emergence at this date was from 4 to 5 percent of the total infestation. A few were also observed emerging from the winter cocoons and beginning to make their way to the outer limbs. These observations were made on a clear bright day about 4 p.m. At the time, it was slightly below freezing in the shade. In the sunshine the temperature was probably a few degrees above the freezing point. There was nearly a foot of snow under the trees in the orchard.