552 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII. 



Dissolve the soap in water heated to boiling. Add the kerosine to the hot 

 mixture, and churn till it forms a thick cream on cooling. The churning is 

 the most important part of the process. If this is not done thoroughly, the 

 oil separates out on cooling', and will not then mix with water. A pr"perly 

 compiiunded emulsion may be subsequently diluted to any extent. The 

 churning may be effected either by stirring vigorously with a bunch of twigs, 

 or the liquid may be repeatedly drawn up and expelled through a garden 

 syringe. To test the a-ixture, put a drop on to a piece of glass. If it ad- 

 heres without separating into oil globules, the process is complete. For 

 application, dilute with nine or ten times the bulk of water. Kerosine emul- 

 sion should not be applied duiing sunshine, or serious injury to the plants 

 may result. 



Strawson's "Red Spider Insecticide'' and McDougall's ''Insecticide Wash" 

 are very convenient forms of soap mixtures, and are both very effective 

 against Orthezia in the proportion of Hlb. of the mixture to 4 gallons of 

 water. 



The insects will remain attached to the plant for a long time (sometimes 

 two or three weeks) after they are dead. An examination with a hand lens 

 is necessary to determine whether the application has been successful or not. 

 If the legs remain rigid and do not move when the insect is disturbed, it 

 may be presumed to be dead. 



After spraying it will be advisable — ^where possible — to prune the bush 

 and burn the piunings. 



Where the pest has become widely distributed, — as on Lantana in waste 

 land, --any treatment of the above nature will be quite impracticable. In 

 such a case all we can do is to endeavour to keep it in check by periodically 

 cutting back and burning the Lantana and other weeds that lodge the insect. 

 In districts where Orthezia is prevalent all boundaries should be kept care- 

 fully cleared back. If Lantana is allowed to encroach upon the tea, the 

 latter is bound to become affected sooner or later. 



Natural Enemies. 



Natural enemies may possibly exist in the native country of Orthezia 

 insignis. But, so far, the career of the pest in Ceylon has been unchecked 

 by any such causes. Birds do not feed upon it, and I have not found a 

 single insect parasite — external or internal — preying upon it. I have tried 

 to induce various species of lady-birds to eat this insect, but they have one 

 and all absolutely ref used^preferring to die of starvation. 



A writer in the " Kew Bulletin" (June-July, 1895^^ quotes from the 

 " Timehri " (a Demerara Journal) in which Mr. R. Ward gives some account 

 of the habits of the Orthezia (in Demerara ?). He says : " Although com- 

 mon, it is not nearly so destructive or troublesome as many of its allies. In 

 the young state it is very abundant; after it becomes fully developed 

 it is more easily preyed upon by its natural enemies, which play an im- 



