316 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Jose scale to his premises. Undoubtedly this scale insect came to this 

 country in some such way on ornamental stock from North China. 

 The Asiatic Ladybird, the Natural Enemy of the San Jose Scale. 



Throughout the region investigated in China where the San Jose 

 scale occurs the natural agency keeping the scale in check was evidently 

 a small ladybird (Chilocorus similis), which was feeding voraciously 

 upon it wherever the scale was found in any numbers. A considerable 

 quantity of these beetles was collected in both Japan and China and 

 sent by mail to Washington. Unfortunately, most of the specimens 

 died in transit or during the first winter. Two individuals, however, 

 survived, and during the first summer from these two some five thou- 

 sand or more beetles were secured. The original stock was kept in 

 cages, but later on the insects were liberated in an experimental orchard 

 attached to the insectary of the department. During the first summer 

 a considerable number of colonies were sent out to various states 

 placing them in charge, in the main, of the entomologists connected 

 with the state experiment stations. During the summer of 1903, the 

 second one since the introduction of this insect, some thirty or forty 

 additional colonies were distributed. A good many of these colonies 

 were liberated under rather unfavorable conditions, and the beetles 

 probably perished. The best success has come from certain colonies 

 sent to Georgia. One of these, located at Marshallville, presents a 

 most satisfactory outcome. This orchard contains some 17,000 peach 

 trees, covering about 85 acres, and has lying immediately adjoining it 

 a much larger orchard belonging to the same owner, containing 250,- 

 000 trees, all scatteringly infested with scale. The ladybirds were 

 liberated in August, 1902, in the smaller orchard. An examination 

 of this orchard in July, 1903, indicated that the beetles were rapidly 

 spreading and that they would soon cover the smaller orchard. A 

 rough estimate at this time of the number of ladybirds in all stages 

 places the total at somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000. In Georgia 

 the beetles evidently continued breeding up to January. There is, 

 therefore, in this orchard at least, a very flattering outlook for good 

 results from the imported beetle. Other colonies placed where there 

 were only two or three or but a few trees have not yielded very satisfac- 

 tory results. This outcome is not especially surprising, as under such 

 circumstances the beetles are very apt to fly away and become lost. We 

 are endeavoring, therefore, to place colonies where there are rather 

 Large bodies of trees infested with scales. After the beetle becomes 

 once well established, distribution c;m be more general, but until this 

 end is readied it is probably wiser not to waste material in sending 

 specimens for colonization to small orchards or gardens or for libera- 

 tion on a few trees. Tn Japan and China where the Chilocorus occurs 



ler generally, it finds food for itself in every dooryard, the white 



