43 8 Monophlebince. 



Writing in February 1917 the Acting Government Entomologist reported 

 that the pest ' does not seem to attack tea or any other product of importance, 

 so far. At present the N.E. Monsoon rains seem to haye killed it off every- 

 where. Every specimen sent in is found to have been destroyed by fungus 

 disease. As for the small colony that was found at Peradeniya it seems to 

 have been killed out by a Coccinellid beetle that has been preying upon it. I 

 have only been able to find one or two specimens of the scale, and they have 

 had their ovisacs full of the larvae of the Coccinellid. This is not Vedalia 

 cardinahs, but a species of a uniform light chestnut colour.' 



I understand that steps are being undertaken to introduce Vedalia cardi- 

 nalis, the beetle that has proved of such immense value in other countries in 

 keeping this pest in check. The history of the discovery and utilisation of 

 this natural enemy of the 'Fluted Scale' is one of the romances of Economic 

 Entomology. The pest, having been accidentally introduced into California 

 some forty years ago, found its new home so congenial, and spread and 

 multiplied to such an extent that it threatened to destroy the great orange- 

 growing industry of that country. In the absence of its proper enemies 

 which it had left behind in the country of its origin it was able to increase 

 without any hindrance. At this juncture the United States Department of 

 Agriculture advised the appointment of an expert to search for the natural 

 enemies of the insect, and selected Mr. Albert Koebele for the mission. 

 In Australia Mr. Koebele was successful in discovering a 'Ladybird Beetle' 

 {Vedalia cardiftalis) that was preying upon the Icerya, and efficiently holding 

 it in check in that country. He collected and transported to the United States 

 large numbers of the beetles, where they (and subsequent consignments) were 

 established so successfully that the pest was reduced to a negligible quantity, 

 and the threatened industry saved from ruin. From America this useful 

 beetle has been sent to other countries (Portugal, South Africa, &c.), into 

 which the 'Fluted Scale' had found its way with equally good results. We 

 may confidently expect that the importation and estalDlishment of the Vedalia 

 in Ceylon will similarly mark the decline of our newly acquired pest. 



Icerya purchasi apparently claims Australia as its original home, whence 

 it has been introduced into New Zealand, and subsequently into South Africa, 

 Fiji, the Sandwich Islands, the West Indies, and the Southern States of 

 America. This pest has obtained a footing also in parts of Southern Europe 

 (Portugal, France, Italy), and recently I have received examples from the 

 island of Madeira. First observed and described in 1878 it has been nearly 

 forty years in making its way to the Indian Region. It has not yet been 

 recorded from the Continent of India, and if proper precautions are taken it 

 should be possible to exclude it. 



