626 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



WHAT OF INTRODUCED PARASITES? 



The passage of Dr. F. Silvestri through San Francisco on June 19, 

 1913, with a splendid collection of living specimens of several species 

 of fruit fly parasites, awakened a new interest in the possibilities of 

 this rational method of controlling imported insect pests, and brought 

 forcibly to the mind of the writer the many shipments of similar live 

 active collaborators sent by him to California in years past, and at the 

 same time a vivid remembrance of the manner in which the same were 

 treated after arrival. 



In view of the publicity given to Dr. Silvestri 's well earned success 

 and as an incentive to further, work along these lines, the following 

 .suggestions are offered. That an investigation be made of the causes — 



Why the grasshoppers have never been epidemic in the Livermore 

 Valley since the fifty-nine living specimens of locust parasites were 

 liberated in that locality by the late Alexander Craw on June 11, 1900, 

 the same having been sent to him by the writer from New South Wales, 

 Australia ? 



Why no more complaints are heard from the Fresno County grape 

 growers about the mealy bug pest since the writer liberated the small 

 Philippine ladybugs in the vineyard of the Backer Vineyard Company 

 three years ago ? 



What has become of the Pulvinaria pest in the apple orchards at and 

 around Downey in Los Angeles County since Frederick INIaskew liber- 

 ated the Ilymenopterous parasites in those same orchards which had 

 been obtained from one of the eastern states? — Geo. Compere. 



INSECTARY SUPERINTENDENT TO COLLECT IN ORIENT. 



Mr. Harry S. Smith sailed on the 5th of August for the Orient, 

 where he goes to seek valuable beneficial insects. ■ Owing to lack of 

 funds, no other will engage in the service this year. Some time since, 

 Mr. Smith discovered in Europe some seven parasites or predaceous 

 insects on the alfalfa beetle, which he transported and introduced in 

 the alfalfa fields of Utah. We have great reason to hope for rich 

 results in this present undertaking. He will be absent two or three 

 months. — A. J. Cook. 



LADYBIRD BEETLES SENT OUT. 



The State Insectary has collected and distributed 75.000.000 of the 

 ladybird beetles nippodxmiia convergeiis this year, as against 43,000,000 

 last year. — ^A. J. Cook. 



