280 



BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 



Mr. l'\iila\vay sailed from Honolulu on July 25 on the S. S. 

 Oiiyo Maru for India via Hongkong, in search of a parasite of 

 the melon fly. and the work of breeding and distribution of the 

 various parasites of the fruit fly, horn, house and stable flies is 

 being continued under my supervision. During the month of 

 August the following parasites of fruit fly were reared : 



Tetrastichus gift'ardii 28,000 



Diachasma fullawayi 1,719 



Diachasma tryoni 795 



Total bred 30,514 



The following colonies were liberated : 



Tetrastichus giffardii 26,500 



Diachasma fullawayi 1,703 



Diachasma tryoni 711 



Total liberated 28,914 



In addition to the above the follo)ving parasites of the horn, 

 house and stable fly were liberated : 



African spalangia 2000 



Philippine spalangia 2000 



African horn fly parasite 1800 



Philippine ptcromalid 1700 



Total liberated 7500 



The grand total of all liberations of ])arasilcs, including large 

 numbers of Opiiis hiimilis, exceeded 36,414 individuals. 



On my return from California I brought a very large colony 

 of a mealy bug parasite {Leptomastix liistrio) which was pre- 

 sented to the Board of Agriculture and Forestry by Mr. Harry 

 .S. Smith, superintendent of the California State Insectary. b>om 

 this lot I have been able to liberate in favorable localities 125 

 individuals, with prospect of liberating many more during the 

 coming month. This parasite originally came from Sicily, Italy, 

 and promises to be cflicicnt in checking the citrus mealy bug and 

 other species. From the material brought I have been al)le to 

 start seven breeding jars for future rearings. The pan'vsitc is 

 very minute, but very active, and is said to complete its life cycle 

 in from 24 to 36 days. 



Several lots of inoculated Japanese beetles have been distrib- 

 uted. Much complaint has reachcfi this oflice of the damage 



