76 Journal of Entomology and Zoology 



The Christmas berry thrips, Trichothrips ilex Moulton, occurs 

 ill all stages upon the tree nialva, Malrastrum fascicidatum (Nutt.)- 

 The young are bright cardinal red with the head, antennae, dorsum 

 of prothorax, legs, and last abdominal segment black. The adults 

 are entirely black. The insects feed on the stems and under- 

 sides of the leaves and the brilliant red nymphs are often present 

 in considerable numbers. 



This species also attacks the Christmas berry, Heteromeles 

 arbutifoUa (Lindl.) and a variety Trichnthrips ilex dumosa Moulton 

 occurs in southern and central California on scrub oak, QiiercK.f 

 dumosa Nutt. 



HEMIPTERA 



The Crackling cicada, Cacama crepitants (Van Duzee).- One 

 of the most interesting insects in the hill region is the crackling 

 cicada, so-called from the various crackling sounds intermingled 

 in the long sonorous buzzing or droning which is at times so deaf- 

 ening. When captured they make a terrific high-pitched noise. 

 The adults may be observed resting near the tops of various shrubs, 

 but appear to prefer the California sage, Artemisia, ealifdruica 

 Less. 



The black scale, Sainsetia olenc (Bern.), is abundant at Laguna 

 Beach, having been dispersed far over the hills infesting many 

 native plants including the California sage, Artemisia califnrnica 

 Less., willows (Salix spp.), and the lemonade or sour berry, Rhus 

 i)ite(irif(Aia B. & H. 



The Cabbage Bug, - Murgantia histrionica Hahn.- The native 

 black pha.se of this species, described as M. nicirirati'< by Cockerell, 

 occurs in great numbers upon the wild mustard. Brassica cam- 

 pestris Linn., and more particularly upon the wild bladder-pod, 

 Iso7neris arhorea Nutt.. growing on the sea coast hills and in the 

 valleys of Southern California. On the latter plant it overwinters 

 and survives the dry years when the mustard fails to appear. The 

 writer lielieves that the above form of the cabbage bug has long 

 been a resident of Southern California where for ages it has sub- 

 sisted upon the two plants listed and .should be considered as a 

 native insect. 



The eggs are often heavily parasitized by a minute black 

 encyrtid, Ooencyrtus john-^oiii (Howard) '. Adults of this parasite 

 were reared from eggs taken chiefly from the wild bladder-pod 

 growing on the hills near the ocean from Balboa Beach to San Juan 

 Capistrano. They issued in greatest numbers during the month 

 of July. 



' Detrrminotl l>v A. H r.nhiin. Huienu of Kntomolonv. U. S. Di'pt. uf Auricultur 



