MONTHLY BULLETIN. 307 



A SUBLABORATORY OF THE INSECTARY IN THE 



SOUTH. 



By Harry S. Smith. 



The culture of suljtropifiil fruits in tliis state, as is well known, liad 

 its orisjjin in the region south of tlie Teliachapi Mountains. The major 

 portion of these fruits is still grown in that part of the state, althougli 

 there is a great extension of the industry to tlie north at the present 

 time. As a general proposition, work with parasitic and predaccous 

 insects is of promise only in connection with pests introduced from 

 foreign countries. It happens that most of the serious pests of sub- 

 tropical fruits in this state are introduced forms, probably for the 

 reason that no plants closely related to citrus or olives are indigenous 

 to California, so that few of our native insects have adapted themselves 

 to any serious extent to these exotic fruits. By reason of these facts 

 a large part of the activities of the insectary have been and will 

 continue to be with the insect pests of subtropical fruits. There is no 

 denying the fact that the work of the insectary has been greatly handi- 

 capped in the past by its location in Sacramento, since for financial 

 reasons much traveling back and forth has been impossible, and the 

 sending of delicate parasites by mail has never been satisfactory. 

 Furthermore, the proper colonization of parasites in the orchard is 

 of first importance, and it has not in the past been possible to do this, 

 since it meant depending upon persons who, though willing and 

 anxious to do all in their power to assist in the work, had not the inti- 

 mate knowledge of the parasites which is a requisite to their proper 

 handling. It is also of utmost importance to follow closely the 

 progress of the new introductions in the orchard, and this has not been 

 possible under conditions as they have been. For these reasons we 

 have established during the past month a sublaboratory of the insectary, 

 located for the present at Pasadena, and in charge of Mr. E. J. 

 Branigan. Our entire breeding stock of Paraleptomastix ahnormis, 

 the promising new mealy bug parasite from Sicily, has been transferred 

 to Pasadena, and Mr. Branigan will occupy himself largely for the 

 present with the colonization of this parasite and other new ones which 

 we are receiving from time to time from IMr. Clausen, who is now in 

 the Orient collecting beneficial insects. All new insects Avill, of course, 

 as heretofore, come first to Sacramento where they can be studied in 

 insect-proof rooms and any dangerous forms eliminated. After their 

 life histories have been thoroughl>' worked out, any promising species 

 of value to subtropical fruits will be forwarded to the sublaboratory 

 for breeding and colonization. This arrangement will also enable us 

 to keep much closer track of suitable localities for parasite colonies. 



It is greatly to be hoped that this sublaboratory can be continued 

 indefinitely, either through still closer co-operation with the Bureau of 

 Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture, or 

 tlirough a slightly increased appropriation by the next legislature. 



