THE LAN TAN A BUG. 553 



portant part in limiting its ravages. In this respect no insects are more 

 assiduous than the grubs of the difEerent species of Cocclnella (lady-birds), 

 Syrphus, the various Hemerohidce, of which the different species of Chrympa 

 act a chief part." It would be interesting to know if Mr. Ward is speaking 

 of his personal observation of the natural enemies of the Orthezia, or whe- 

 ther he is alluding in general terms to the acknowledged work of such 

 natural enemies. 



Mode of Distribution. 



The young larvae of all scale-insects are very easily transported from one 

 place to another. They are minute and active, and can exist for sevei'al days 

 without food. They may crawl on to the feet of birds, cr even on to larger 

 insects that may be resting on the bug-infested plant, and may be conveyed 

 in this manner to a considerable distance before being dislodged. They 

 may be brushed off the plant and carried away on the clothing of 

 passers by. 



The rough cumblies used by Tamil coolies are particularly liable to carry 

 the infection. "Wandering cattle are also unconscious distributors of the pest. 

 The young insects are so light that they may be transported by wind. The 

 conspicuous way in which the pest is spreading along the sides of the railway 

 track points to the supposition that they are carried along by the draught of 

 passing trains. Running water is another fertile source of distribution. An 

 infested plant growing on the banks of a stream or river is sure to shed some 

 of the insect into the water. Individuals may be floated clown for miles 

 before effecting a landing. 



The interchange of garden plants is also a great source of danger. It was 

 in this way that the pest obtained a footing in Ceylon. 



Bibliography. 



References to Orthezia insignis may be found in the following papers and 

 publications : — 



(1) Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Ser. II., Vol, III., No. 20 

 (Dec, 1887), p. 169 eis(:^(7.; 2 plates. " Notes on a Species of Orthezia found 

 in Kew Gardens," by Edward T. Browne. 



(2) Entomologists' Monthly iMagazine (Jan., 1888), p. 169, with several 

 figures (A Description of the species, by Mr. J. W. Douglas). 



(3) Thirty-Second Annual Report of the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 

 lege, for 1894. " A New Greenhouse Pest,'' by C. P. Lounsbury. 



(In the three papers quoted above, the male of a species of Dactylopms is 

 erroneously described and figured as that of 0. insigms). 



(4) Annual Report on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, for 1893, by 

 Dr. H. Trimen. (Mention of injury by the pest.) 



(5) Indian Museum Notes, Vol. Ill,, No. III. { 1894), p. 103. " A New Coc- 

 cid from Ceylon," by G. B, Buckton, F.R.S. (0. nacrea is here a synonym of 

 0, insignis). 



