189 



No, 7 — Schizea pennula, Stv. 



In our Herbarium are two sheets of this Schizea. Specimens of 

 this fern were also brought in during the month of March. The 

 above ferns grow in open — but partially shaded ground in clayey soil 

 among grasses and other Ioav herbage. They are seldom seen in 

 cultivation. 



No. 8 — Fungus on Coccid. 



A FUNGUS which preys upon one of the Coccidae or scale insects 

 found infesting the leaves of Hippeastrum has been named by the Kew 

 authorities as Microcera coccopliila Desm. Observation shows that 

 scale insects suffer much from the attack of fungi, in fact these 

 apparently insignificant members of the vegetable kingdom form one 

 of the most serious natural enemies of the scale insects of plants. 

 When it is remembered that in the ultimate stage of its life history, 

 the Coccid or scale becomes a fixture to one particular spot ; it is 

 more easy to understand how these insects can be overcome by the 

 mycelium of a fungus. 



The latter organism advances towards the insect once it becomes 

 fixed> and grows over it enveloping it as completely as a spider does a 

 fly — and ultimately secures the complete destruction of its life, and 

 the life of the embryos it may contain. In all cases of insect attack 

 it therefore becomes an imperative necessity that the life history of 

 the organism which attacks, should be thoroughly examined, and its 

 natural enemies ascertained ; for what may become by some special 

 environment a most serious enemy in one place, may through the 

 presence of natural enemies be practically harmless in another. In 

 this way it becomes evident that the attempt to introduce natural 

 enemies, is a much more intelligent mode of proceeding, than to 

 endeavour to provide " certain cures" or "panaceas" for the evil in 

 the forms of washes or fumigations, although it is true, these have to 

 be resorted to at times to save plants from a persistent attack, in the 

 absence of the natural enemy of the insect. 



It is put on record that the practice of introducing natural 

 enemies to subdue or overcome insect attack, has been very successful 

 in many parts of the world and though the attempt may sometimes 

 fail, it is fairly clear that in the end it is a much safer and economical 

 plan than to trust to chemical fumes or to washes. Even the destruc- 

 tive parasol ant might probably be overcome if we could find out its 



