THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 77 



GENERAL NOTES. 



THE SEASON'S WORK WITH HIPPODAMIA CONVERGENS. 



During the season of 1914 it is our earnest desire to carry on the dis- 

 tribution of this beneficial insect on an even greater scale than in the 

 past. IMr. Branigan, our collector, has finished his preliminary scout- 

 ing Avork in the Sierras, and reports a number of excellent colonies 

 which have not heretofore been utilized. This is encouraging, and we 

 confidently expect to exceed the one hundred million mark before the 

 end of the present year. This means that much additional work will 

 be thrown upon the insectary force with no increase in assistants, and 

 we therefore earnestly solicit the co-operation of the public, that the 

 work may go forward with as little friction as possible. 



We will probably make a radical change with regard to the handling 

 of this matter in the Imperial Valley, where perhaps one half to two 

 thirds of our entire supply is colonized. During tlie past four or more 

 seasons the European grain aphis. Aphis avence, has been the cause of 

 very great loss to the barley growers of that section. Its season of 

 greatest abundance is from February up to the melon aphis season, i. e., 

 May and June. This grain aphis is one of the favorite foods of Hippo- 

 damia convergens, and as it occurs in such great abundance at the time 

 just previous to when the melon aphis begins to appear, it is thought 

 that, in theory at least, we can better serve the interests of the melon 

 growers, and at the same time be of assistance to the grain men, by 

 releasing the ladybirds upon the barley aphis during February. This 

 should give them an opportunity to go through a full generation before 

 the melon aphis becomes abundant, and the force brought to bear against 

 the latter pest should, theoretically, be very greatly augmented. It is 

 hoped, bv this practice, that the melon aphis plague will be ''nipped in 

 the bud."" 



This will, of course, mean that we can not supply ladybirds to the 

 cantaloupe growers later in the season, becaiLse practically the entire 

 quota for Imperial County will be distributed in the barley fields during 

 February. For this reason, unless our plan is changed, we respectfully 

 urge that the melon growers in Imperial Valley do not send in applica- 

 tions for ladybirds, as it will only unnecessarily increase the corre- 

 spondence of the insectary. We will do our utmost to take care of the 

 melon aphis problem in co-operation with the county horticultural 

 commissioner. Mr. Waite. Cantaloupe growers outside the Imperial 

 Valley will, of course^ send in applications as in previous years. 



With the exception of the Imperial Valley the distribution of Hippo- 

 damia convergens will be carried on practically as in the past, but we 

 would urge that all who desire colonies of these insects make their 

 applications through their county horticultural commissioner instead of 

 directly to the insectary. The ladybirds will be shipped either to the 



