December, '09] JOURNAL of economic entomology 449 



Cuba it was first noted in 1903 by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, at Havana; and 

 later, in 1905, by Mr. C. L. Marlatt at Artamisa, and at Santiago de 

 las Vegas by Dr. Mel T. Cook. 



Very little is known of the capacity for injury possessed by this 

 Aleyrodid. Mr. C. L. Marlatt found it quite abundant locally on 

 several of the old orange trees at Artamisa, but at that time, 1905, 

 noted that it had spread but slightly into the surrounding younger 

 groves. When describing it for the first time, Mr. A. L. Quaintance 

 stated that judging from its abundance on leaves sent the Bureau of 

 Entomology from Cuba it was a very serious pest of the Cuban orange, 

 perhaps rivaling the Citrus white-fly of Florida. Whatever damage 

 it is causing in Cuba, where it may be partially controlled by para- 

 sitic and predaceous enemies, it has shown itself capable of rapid 

 multiplication and spread in its new home at Tampa. Notwithstand- 

 ing the fact that it has not been observed in Florida before, although 

 the same trees upon which it is now so abundant were casually exam- 

 ined by the writer in 1907 and 1908, it has become well established 

 over a very large portion of the city, spreading northward beyond 

 Michigan Avenue and eastward into Ybor City. Trees across the 

 Hillsboro River, on the grounds of the Tampa Bay Hotel, are well 

 infested, hence it is safe to presume that the pest is well established 

 in the western part of the city. 



From the present infestation it is quite apparent that the insect 

 first became established near the water front. In this section neglected 

 worthless trees along the streets and in door yards are in many cases 

 very heavily infested. While it appears to be rivaling the Citrus 

 white-fly in the extent of its attack on some trees, it is improbable 

 that it is capable of causing so widespread disaster to citrus trees. 

 Yet if it once becomes abundant in a grove, it will prove a source of 

 no little aggravation and discomfort to those working in the trees 

 because of the large and extremely vicid drops of honey dew which 

 collect over the bodies of the insects, and later become embedded in 

 the copious waxen secretions. 



A more technical paper, with descriptions and drawings, is being 

 prepared for early publication as part of the series of technical 

 bulletins being issued by the Bureau of Entomology. 



