520 Pomona College Journal of Entomology 



feeding upon Pseudococcus ryani Coq., Erium lichtensioides Ckll., and Pseudo- 

 coccus citri Risso. The adult form is nearly as predaceous as is the larva. The 

 larva is covered with a white woolly secretion not unlike that of the larva of 

 Cryptolaemus montrousieri Mul., a picture of which was printed in the last 

 number of this article. Due to the fact that it is very heavily parasitized it can do 

 little effective work. From a single larva I succeeded in hatcliing seven internal 

 parasites. 



Both larval and adult forms are met with frequently in the mealy bug infested 

 orchards of Ventura County. 



Scymnus sordidus Horn 

 (Figure 166 C) 



This is a small dark or light brown lady-bird beetle which is a native of 

 Ventura County as well as of all Southern California. 



Body elongate oval. Length 1.65 mm., width 0.9 mm. Pronotum piceous, 

 minutely, not very closely, punctulate, the sides not quite continuous. Elytra pale, 

 with margins nubilously blackish, more broadly at base, finely and rather closely 

 punctate. Abdominal lines extending outward externally parallel to edge of the 

 segment and a slight distance therefrom, prosternum relatively slightly wider 

 between coxae, flat and wholly devoid of carinte; genital or "sixth" ventral segment, 

 usually developed. (Casey, Cocill. of Am., Jr. N. Y. Ent. Soc. Vol. V^II, pp. 

 189-156.) 



The larva- of tiiis insect are small and covered with long white filaments 

 resembling the larvae of Scymnus gutlulatus Lee. Of the three coccinellids Iiere 

 mentioned this is the most effective worker on the citrus mealy bug. It may be 

 found in large numbers in the orchards wherever the mealy bugs exist. I was able 

 to procure this insect in great numbers in a nursery at Santa Ana last summer, 

 wliere it was feeding on mealy bugs which infested a Broom (Cyiisus). 



INTERNAL PARASITES 



There have been a number of attempts on the part of the State to introduce 

 internal parasitic enemies of the mealy bug along with the predaceous coccinellids. 

 Some three years ago Geo. Compere was able to import three species, the names 

 of which were not known at the time. Some of these were liberated in San Diego 

 County, but none in Ventura County. Strange as it may seem, I was able to breed 

 out two distinct internal parasites from mealy bugs here, and one of these appears to 

 be the same as one of the three introduced from the Philippine Islands by Compere. 

 It is Chrysoplatycerus splendens Howard. How it was ever introduced into this 

 county is not known, but it has now become widely distributed and quite numerous. 

 Another internal jjarasite bred from the citrus mealy bug is Cheiloneurus dactylopii 

 Howard. A dipterous parasite, Leucopis bella Locw., was also raised in consider- 

 able numbers. 



I am indebted to Dr. L. (). Howard and J. C. Crawford for the determinations 

 of the Ilymenoptcra and to D. W. C(«]uillttt for the determination of Leucopis 

 bella Loew. 



