142 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6 



The most important predators encountered in our investigations 

 have been, in Nortli America, the phycitid Laelilia coccidivora and 

 L. c. quadricolorella in Texas and Florida, and the coccinellid Hyperaspis 

 trifurcata in Texas and Mexico; and in South America, the phycitid 

 Salambona analamprella, the coccinellid Cybocephalus sp., and the syrphid 

 Salpinogaster conopida in Argentina. Other enemies have included: 

 Coleoptera — the coccinellids Hyperaspis fimbriolata, Cybocephalus nigri- 

 tulus, Scymnus intrusus, and S. hornii, all in Texas; Diptera — the syrphid 

 Baccha sp. in Florida and the agromyzid Leucopis bellula in Florida and 

 Argentina; Neuroptera — the hemerobiid Sympherobius amiculus in Texas 

 and one related species in Mexico. 



In Australia, the coccinellid Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and chrysopid 

 and hemerobiid lacewings are known to attack the introduced 

 Dactylopius. 



Salambona analamprella in South America and Laetilia coccidivora in 

 North America are either carnivorous or polyphagous, in that the 

 larvae may feed also on the buds and flowers of prickly pears. Indeed, 

 the former insect assumes some importance in this connection. More- 

 over, after devouring the available cochineal it will often tunnel and 

 complete development within the prickly pear joint. 



Most of the natural enemies appear to possess at least three, and 

 possibly as many as five or six, generations annually. 



Laetilia coccidivora in Texas passed through one generation from early 

 August to early September. In the following generation a few moths 

 emerged in October and further larvae pupated in late November and 

 early December. Most of the larvae, however, remained inactive 

 from November to February. A few pupated early in March and pro- 

 duced moths late in the same month. In early April larvae were full- 

 grown and pupating in Florida; and larvae of the next generation were 

 prevalent in June and July. 



Observations on Hyperaspis trifurcata in Texas indicated that three 

 generations occurred between August and April, as follows: 



August Larvae present; a few adults emerging. 



September Larvae present; adults emerged in numbers. 



October Larvae in large numbers; pupation generally late in 



the month, when a few adults emerged. 



November A few larvae observed; pupae and adults plentiful. 



December Pupae and inactive adults. 



January Larvae, mostly small, abundant. 



February Larvae, mostly small, abundant. 



March Larvae plentiful in all stages; a few adults. 



