2 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6 



every indication that cultivation of the cochineal Dadylopius coccus 

 Costa was conducted in Mexico and Central America for many 

 centuries before the voyage of Columbus. The Spaniards encouraged 

 the industry after their occupation of Mexico and as early as 1592 

 passed laws to prevent adulteration of the product. In the 18th century, 

 possibly earlier, other species of Dadylopius Costa attacking prickly 

 pear were recognized under the general name "wild cochineals." 

 Some of these forms were taken to other countries with the idea of 

 establishing a cochineal industry — Dadylopius ceylonicus Green, for 

 example, was introduced into India in 1795. 



Between 1877 and 1895 several other insects were found breeding 

 in cactus plants. Among the earlier published records, mention can 

 be made of the following (see the bibliography for the titles of these 

 and other works) : 



In 1877 E. A. Popenoe recorded Moneilema annulata Say on Opuntia 

 Tournefort in Kansas. 



In 1886 Eugene Duges described and figured the larvae and pupae 

 of Moneilema variolare Thomson and Cadophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) 

 breeding in Opuntia in Mexico. 



In 1889 G. H. Horn published the finding of immature stages of 

 Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) in stems of Opuntia bernardina Engelmann 

 in California. 



In 1891 C. V. Riley recorded the breeding of Melitara prodenialis 

 Walker from Opuntia in Florida in 1877. 



In 1892 V. L. Kellogg described and illustrated all stages of 

 Melitara dentata (Grote) breeding in Opuntia missouriensis De Candolle 

 in Colorado. 



In 1895 H. G. Hubbard published an account of the oviposition 

 and larval habits of Melitara prodenialis Walker attacking Opuntia in 

 Florida. 



Further additions to tlie knowledge of cactus insects were made 

 between 1896 and 1912, mostly in short published notes by various 

 writers. 



In 1912 appeared the first comprehensive treatment of the insects 

 of the Cactaceae in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Entomology 

 Bulletin The Principal Cactus Insects of the United States, by W. D. Hunter, 

 F. C. Pratt, and J. D. Mitchell. This excellent work describes the 

 life history and habits of various species, summarizes previous infor- 

 mation, and provides a very useful bibliography. The bulletin listed 

 324 species of insects, 92 of which were recorded as injurious species, 

 either attacking direcdy or associated with cactus plants in the United 

 States. It included also certain species from Mexico and Central 

 America. 



