THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 489 



INSECT NOTES. 



The large narcissus bulb fly, Meroclon eguestris Fab., has been intercepted in local 

 export shipments of narcissus bulbs at San Francisco. The bulbs in question were 

 grown at San I.,eandro and Santa Cruz, California. 



As this is the bulb planting season, great care should be exercised not to plant 

 infested bulbs, as certainly no flowers could be expected from them and the chances 

 of spreading an injurious insect are greatly augmented. 



The larvie of this insect are dirty, white grubs, measuring about one half to three 

 fourths of an mch in length. If traces of infestation are not apparent from outside 

 indications, press the bulb with the fingers. If it yields to this pressure examine care- 

 fully with a knife, and if the insect is present the burrow or the insect itself will be 

 easily revealed. For further reference the reader's attention is called to Vol III No 2 

 page 73, Monthly Bulletin. — L. A. Whitxey. ' ' ' 



Morganella maskeUi, Ckll. Adult female scale, pitch black, about 1 mm in diam- 

 eter, convex, and circular to broad oval, exuvite concolorous, very inconspicuous 

 placed toward the side. Microscopic character of abdominal margin as follows • A 

 single pair of lobes, inner edges straight parallel and close to each other ■ outer edges 

 with one large notch. Four pair of spines on each side of the lobes: first pair short 

 balance long. Thirteen plates strongly serrated on each side of the lobes. No groups 

 of circumgenital glands. Fernald records this scale from Hawaiian Islands. Mauritius 

 and Brazil on Michelia fiava and camellia. Mr. Compere collected it at Coolgardie 

 West Australia, in 1902, on Melaleuca sp. along with Aspidiotus cavielUtr. and in 190.3 

 Mr. Compere collected Morganella maskelU on fig trees at Nagasaki, Japan The 

 material collected on fig tree.'? in Japan was covered with scale to such an extent that 

 the bark was completely hidden. Tliis scale was apparentlv killing the fig trees in 

 Japan. Oranges as well as a number of native shrubs from Tahiti are infested with 

 this scale. It thrives upon the fruits, trunks and branches of the trees, and is taken 

 m (luarantine at San Franci.sco on the anival of almost everv steamer from Tahiti 

 Tliere is no doubt but that this scale would become a bad citruis pest if it ever became 

 established in California. — B. B. Whitney. 



The red house ant, Monomorinvi pharaouis, a minute species, is very bad in Sacra- 

 mento and Marysville and is a very serious pest in hotels. — E. J. Branigax. 



The walnut mealy bug. Psendococcus bakeri, is doing a great deal of damage to 

 grapes in a few of the vineyards in Fresno County. — E. J. Branigan. 



The grape leaf- hopper. Typhlocyba comes Say, can be seen in great numbers 

 throughout the \int yard section of Fresno County. — E. J. Bkaxigan. 



The common black-spotted red ladybirds. Iliopodamia convergens, are reported to 

 be congregating in their hibernating quarters in the high Sierras. — E. J. Branigan. 



• "^^^^^X^^^ Insectary has released a colony of Leptomastix sp., a new internal para- 

 site of Psr)(rfococc«s citri Bern., into the infested orchards of southern California — 



E. J. V OSLER. 



Coccophagns orientalis How., an internal parasite of Saissetia clew Bern has been 

 recovered from a colony released in the late spring at Niles, California. — E. J. Vosler. 



A colony of se\eral thousand adults of Scymnus bipiinctatus, a predator on Pseudo- 

 coccus c,tri,nni\ introduced from the .Philippine Ishinds, has been sent to southern 

 California. — E. J. Vosler. 



Diabrotica soroi- Lee, is an annoying pest of chrysanthemums in Sacramento County 

 at the present time. — E. J. Vosler. 



The nymphs of the false chinch bug, Njjsius angustatns Uhl., were common in Sacra- 

 mento County during October. — E. J. Vosler. 



Saissetia olew Bern, is heavily infesting Ro.se of Sharon trees in the Capitol Park 

 at bacramento. — E. J. Vosler. 



Lygus pratensis Linn., has been found to be abundant in the opening chrysanthemum 

 buds at bacramento. — E. J. Vosler. 



