December, '14] GLASER: FUNGOUS DISEASES 473 



(Department of Piura); Batata edulis, Sullana (Department of Piura); Bidens sp., 

 Sullana. 



Saissetia hemisphcerica Targ. 

 This well-known coccid is of quite general occurrence in Peru, but 

 as a rule the individuals are rather scattering, there often being only 

 one or two on a single leaf or stem. Rarelj^, indeed, is it found in 

 masses and even in such cases the individuals are soon killed off by- 

 parasites, so that a heavy infestation, with its consequent damage to 

 the host, is very unusual. 



Recorded as follows: on Asparagus officinalis, Piura; Plumieria sp., Piura; 

 Baccharis sp., Perene Colony (interior of Peru); Tessaria sp., Peren6 Colony; 

 Bignonia slans, Piura and Lima. 



Saissetia olece Bern. 



While the female of this species is common in many parts of Peru, 

 the males have been seen here upon only a single occasion. On July 

 15, 1913, the writer collected hundreds of male propupa on the under- 

 sides of the leaves of Asclepias curassavica at Chosica, from which 

 many perfect males emerged within the next few days. Hitherto, 

 California is the only locality from which the males have been reported 

 (see Bulletin no. 223, Calif. Agricultural Experiment Station by H, J. 

 Quayle and E. W. Rust), and it is of much interest to the writer 

 again to be able to record them, especially at such a distance from 

 where they were originally found. 



S. oleoe has been noted as follows by this office; on cotton (G. peruvianum), Somate 

 (Department of Piura), and at Catacaos; on cotton, Vitor (hear Arequipa), and 

 Coscomba (near Piura) ; on Nerium oleander, Lima; on Asclepias curassavica, Lima, 

 and Chosica' 



THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE FUNGOUS DISEASES OF 



INSECTS 



By R. W. Glaser, Bureau of Entomology 



There can be no doubt that at certain times of the year, under 

 Certain conditions, epidemics of fungous diseases naturally contribute 

 much toward controlHng noxious insects. This, however, is a balance 

 established by nature of her own accord. Can we help her? 



Let us suppose that a given locality is heavily infested by a noxious 

 insect; also that a number of individuals in this locality have died 

 from fungus parasitism and, lastly, that we have found an infested 

 locality free from such a fungus. We will naturally ask ourselves the 

 following questions: 



(1) Can we cultivate this fuilgus? 



