530 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 84 



In 1924 Harold Compere reported on the rearing, from Japanese 

 material, of four primary parasites of the so-called Citricola scale. 



Coccophagus modestus, introduced from South Africa into Cali- 

 fornia as a primary parasite of the black scale, is considered in South 

 Africa to be one of the most effective enemies of this scale. Accord- 

 ing to Smith and Compere, in a bulletin published in 1926, its estab- 

 lishment in southern California was successful. 



Mr. Harold Compere went to Australia in 1928. Among other 

 important material, he brought back Coccophagus gurneyi, a species 

 that in New South Wales is parasitic on four different species of 

 mealy-bugs. It was brought to California by Mr. Compere in the 

 hope that it would attack the so-called citrophilus mealy-bug. Writ- 

 ing to me on March 10, 1930, Professor Smith used the following 

 words : " Coccophagus gurneyi is a wonder. It looks now as though 

 the citrophilus mealy-bug is doomed. Many groves have been com- 

 pletely cleaned up of the mealy-bug, and the dead carcasses with exit 

 holes are found by the millions on the trees. I think we are about 

 to witness another very successful case of biological control." 



URUGUAY 



When the Defensa Agricola was created in 191 1 there had been 

 much damage for some years to peach trees by Diaspis peniagona. 

 Ing. Roberto Sundberg immediately investigated the question of its 

 natural enemies. He visited the United States and Italy in 191 2, 

 and branches carrying ])arasitized scales were sent to him in Uruguay 

 both from the United States and from Italy. With careful handling 

 and prompt distribution, the parasite {Prospaltclla hcrlesci, How.) 

 was speedily acclimatized, and at the ])resent time the scale is virtually 

 held in check. The peach orchards, which were practically ruined, 

 recovered in a short time, and Uruguay produces a large crop and is 

 in the way of exjxjrting peaches. Through the Defensa Agricola, the 

 same parasite was sent to Argentina. 



In 191 5 Icerya purchasi was discovered in Uruguay. Colonies of 

 Novius cardinalis were sent from Portugal, but without success. In 

 1919 a technical man was sent to Euroi^e and secured a colony of the 

 Novius at the Insectorium at Menton. France. He personally car- 

 ried this shipment back to Uruguay, but only five adult beetles sur- 

 vived the journey. From these individuals, however, in the course of 

 two months thousands of adults were reared and widely distributed, 

 so that within a year the infestation was practically under control. 

 The Defensa Agricola sent colonies of the Novius to Sao Paulo, 

 Brazil, and to Argentina. 



