THE STORY OF AN ENTOMOLOGIST 



found the little predatory beetle that was to become so famous. 

 Both were sent to Coquillet. 



The results startled the whole biological and horticultural 

 world. In less than a year all threat of damage by this particular 

 scale-insect was a thing of the past. And it was the little beetle 

 that had done the work. 



The beneficial insect was known then as Vedalia cardinalis, but 

 the genus was later changed to Nomtis (by skilled experts). 

 It became generally known as the "Australian Ladybird," and 

 the incident has become an entomological and horticultural 

 classic. 



The credit for this fine accomplishment has been disputed by 

 Californians, notably by a prominent citizen of that state named 

 Frank McCoppin, who was the United States Commissioner to 

 the Melbourne Exposition. Moreover, there is a recent tendency 

 in Germany to call all of this assisted natural control work the 

 "Koebele Method." The Germans are rather partial to their own 

 people — quite properly so — and Koebele was born in Germany. 

 The truth is, that the main credit belongs to Riley. I remember 

 with some confusion that when he talked over the plan with E. 

 A. Schwarz and myself we told him that in our opinion there 

 was little chance of success, since Australia was in an entirely 

 different life zone, as well as in the other hemisphere. 



In spite of the fact that I was slowly given more and more 

 credit for what I did, I was by no means satisfied; nor was I 

 by any means entirely wrapped up in my work. I made many 

 friends among other young men, in and out of the government 

 service, rode the tall bicycle, belonged to an admirable bicycle 

 club, went constantly to the theater and the opera, and joined 

 a musical society. Many of my friends were German, and I went 



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