THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



They ai 

 both th< 

 from. 

 is easilj 

 ator wil 



■e very effective as enemies of mealybugs, the larvae feeding upon 

 • eggs and the younger hosl insects by sucking the juices there 

 When the larva is mature it forms a dark brown puparium w Inch 



observed amongst t! gg masses of the mealybugs. This pred 



ao doubt prove to be of much value in the control of the Citro- 

 philus mealybug, and while it is difficult to 



br 1 in confinement it is possible that the 



growers can be supplied with colonies of 

 this insect hy means of collections to be had 

 in Other localities. This insect is found 

 throughout the United States and Europe 

 as well. 



Fig. 39. /.< u< opia /■■ lla, 

 dipterous parasite "i* the Cit- 



Baccha Lemur i >. S. 



This flower fly often becomes of some 



value as an enemy of the citrus mealybug 



and the Baker mealybug. The adult is 



bronzy-black in color, with a wasp-like body 



and clear transparent wings, each having a 



black spot near the center. It is slightly 



over one-half inch in length. The eggs are 

 dipterous parasite •>! tne uit- ... . i i_ i h 



ropMius mealybug. Enlarged deposited in a colony ot mealybugs and tne 



several timea ui "'" lLI larva- feed in much the same way as other 



syrphids. When full grown the puparium is formed, which is dark 



brown in color and in shape somewhat resembles a pear. This fly is 



common in the southern pari of the state and at times is of considerable 



practical importance, although generally speaking it would hy no means 



rank with the preceding fly in practical value. 



PARASITIC INSECTS. 

 Paraleptomastix Abnormis Girault. 



This internal parasite was introduced into California from Sicily 

 by the Insectary a couple of years ago. It has been liberated in the 

 citrus orchards throughout the state wherever /'. citri occurs, and in 

 every instance has become established and is rapidly 

 increasing in numbers. It has already become the 

 most important parasite of the citrus mealybug in 

 California. .Mr. Wbglum informs me that he has 

 estimated as high as a thousand parasites to the tree 



in groves near Pasadena. 



The adult is a wasp-like insect which deposits its 

 eggs within the young mealybugs hy means of an 

 ovipositor or stinji'. This adult is very charac- 

 teristic and is easily distinguished from other Cali- 

 fornia parasites hy its habil of strutting about on 

 the leaves and fruit, holding ils wings aloft. From 

 :i.~> to 60 days are necessary for a generation, de- 

 pending upon the weal her. 



This parasite takes kindly to domestication, in fact the only limit to 

 the quantity thai can he reared for liberation is tin- supply of mealy- 

 bugs lo he had for food. It works on the citrus mealybug only. 



Fig. 40. The lemur 

 syrphid, Baccha le- 

 mur O. S. \ ■ 1 1 1 1 1 . -ii 

 larged twice. * After 

 Essig. i 



