The House Fly

Leland Ossian Howard

Jan 1917 · U.S. Department of Agriculture

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"No one method for the control of the common mealy bug can be recommended under all conditions. The remedy or remedies to be used will depend upon whether the trees are in house lots or orchards, whether few or many, and the infestation light or severe. In the case of sever infestation it will depend also upon the kind of fruit. This insect infects oranges of all varieties, grapefruit, lemons, and all other kinds of citrus fruit grown in California, causing deformity, weakening and dropping of much immature fruit, and the discoloration and weakening of the rind of the fruit maturing. This bulletin discusses the three remedies which have been widely used : namely, fumigation, spraying, and the artificial spread of insect enemies, points out the sphere of usefulness of each method, and shows, on pages 14-15, how they may be combined so as to secure complete control. An important part of the procedure recommended is the banding of trees with a mixture consisting of sulphur and a sticky material used to protect trees from insects. This keeps off the Argentine ant and other ants which attend and foster the mealybug and hinder or prevent the good work of insect enemies which otherwise might hold it in check. The method of preparing the mixture and applying the bands is described on pages 12-13. Where insect enemies are few or absent, or where they are themselves heavily parasitized, the trees should be sprayed or fumigated, and colonies of effective enemies should be introduced."--Page [2]