384 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE LESTOPHONUS, A DIPTEROUS 

 PARASITE OF THE COTTONY CUSHION SCALE.^ 



By Harry S. Smith and Harold Compere. 



The function of the state insectary, as is generally well known 

 throughout California, is the importation and colonization of parasites 

 and predaceous insects which appear to be of value in controlling the 

 injurious forms in foreign countries and which give promise of effective 

 work here. In order to conduct such work intelligently and to carry 

 it on without danger to agricultural interests, a considerable amount of 

 research work in life histories and habits of parasitic and predaceous 

 insects is required. Further than that, a broad knowledge of the habits 

 of such insects in general is a necessity in problems of this kind. It 



Fig. 128. — Drawing of the adult Lestophonus, greatly enlarged. 



(Original.) 



was mainly the idea of thus broadening our knowledge of insect parasit- 

 ism in general that led us to make the observations on the Lestophonus- 

 recorded on the following pages, and the hope of helping others who 

 are carrying on similar lines of work leads us to publish them. 



The discovery, importation and successful establishment of the Lesto- 

 phonus in California as an adjunct in the control of the Cottony 

 Cushion scale forms a chapter in economic entomology hardly less 

 fascinating than that of the famed Vedalia, and if the facts were known 

 we Avould probably find that to this parasite is due at least a portion 

 of the good work for which Yedalia receives credit. 



'Occasional contributions from tlie California State Insectary No. 3. 



==As explained later on in the article, the technical name of this parasite is Crypto- 

 chwtum vionophlebi (Skuse), but since the insect is popularly known as the Lesto- 

 phonus in California we prefer to use this name in the title. 



