402 ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



observed that later in the season nearly every "flaxseed" was para- 

 sitized. W. D. Hunter introduced parasites of the Cotton Boll-weevil 

 from Waco to Dallas and from Texas to Louisiana with considerable 

 success (Fig. 254). 



3. Several conspicuous successes have attended the importation 

 of parasites from foreign countries. Perhaps the introduction of the 

 lady -bird, Novius cardinalis, from Australia to California in 1888 

 for the purpose of controlling the Cottony Cushion or Fluted Scale of 

 the Orange {Icerya purchasi) is one of the most interesting cases. 

 This scale was brought to California about 1868, probably on Acacia 



Fig. 254. — Polygnotus hiemalis, a parasite of the Hessian fly: adult. Greatly 

 enlarged. {From Webster, U. S. Bur. Ent.) 



latifolia. It began to multiply rapidly in the orange and lemon groves 

 in spite of every measure that was tried against it. Dr. Riley, U. S. 

 entomologist, and his staff made the scale a subject of special study 

 for 4 or 5 years and he became convinced that it was a native of 

 Austraha. Accordingly, two entomologists, Koebele and Webster, 

 were sent to that country to collect possible parasites, and to send them 

 to California. Novius cardinalis was found at Adelaide and small 

 shipments of it were sent. The lady-birds began to feed on the 

 Icerya scale insect as soon as they were liberated, and to breed rapidly 

 — the result being that within a year the orange growers confessed 

 that their groves had been saved. Later, Novius cardinalis was sent 



