THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



129 



Inseetary at Sacramento, Cal. A few turned loose in the orchards will 

 soon multiply to ("onsiderablc numbers. 



While it has never been able to control the mealy bugs as has the 

 Vedalia, the cottony cushion scale, yet in a few instances its work has 

 been as complete. For some reason it is not able to increase as rapidly 

 as the mealy bups and the pest soon tTets the upper hand. As the mealy 

 bugs are gradually diminislied in a community the beetles die off and it 

 may be necessary to re-establish them in certain small districts if the 

 mealy bugs again increase. 



Fig. 41. — Ad'iilt of the mealy 

 bug destroyer, Cri/ptolwrnus inon- 

 troHziei-i. Greatly enlarged. (Au- 

 thor's illustration.) 



Cryptogoniis orbiciilus Schon. 

 (Fig. 42.) 



The adults ai)i)ear at first sight to be black, but upon closer examina- 

 tion it will be found that there are two quite large reddish-brown spots 

 upon the elytra, as shown in the illustration. They are elongate or oval 

 in shape, scarcely one eighth of an inch long and are exceedingly active. 

 The eggs are oblong, and very small. They are laid 

 singly among the egg masses and young of the mealy 

 bugs. The bodies of the larvae are yellow and covered 

 with long, white cottony-like filaments (Fig. 40. B). 

 The pupal stage is passed within tlie old skins of the 

 larvae in some sheltered or hidden places. Being a 

 very small beetle, it preys principally upon the eggs 

 and the young mealy bugs. 



This ladybird beetle was introduced into California 

 by George Compere from the Philippine Islands dur- 

 ing the year 1910, and was liberated in the various 

 parts of southern California. Its establishment does not seem to have 

 been complete. IMr. Harry S. Smith also brought some of this species 

 with him from the Philippine Islands in December, 1913, and has great 

 hopes for it, as it is an effectual enemy in many countries of the Far 

 East. 



Fill. 42. — Adult 

 Cryptogoniis orbic- 

 iilus. Enlarged. 

 (Author's illustra- 

 tion.) 



