328 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 5 



The Prospaltella, like all special or general internal parasites, does 

 not attack a single particular individual scale, but searches contin- 

 ually and actively until the last individual is found and oviposited in. 

 The scale is attacked at all ages — larva, nymph, and adult, but the 

 females especially are parasitized. This is of especial importance 

 from the point of view of economy of the forces of the parasite. The 

 destruction of the males would be worth little, for the Diaspis is par- 

 thenogenetic ; the Prospaltella is also parthenogenetic — the males of 

 this species are not even known. So the reproductive forces are not 

 wasted in the production of males which would be useless in destroy- 

 ing the Coccid. This precious parasite is very active and prolific, 

 having four or five generations a year, each female carrying about one 

 hundred eggs in its abdomen. Professor Berlese has been able to 

 find no enemy or disease of the Prospaltella except predaceous insects. 



One of the most striking characteristics of the Prospaltella is its 

 migratory power, which helps enormously in its spread. Emigration 

 takes place during the hot season, and the insects will fly to relatively 

 great distances in order to lay their eggs, and often pass over walls, 

 hedges, ditches and other obstacles. The early and late generations 

 are lazier and remain near the birth place. 



After his inspection trip to verify the results of the parasitic work, 

 Berlese has reported the following conclusions: 



(1) Prospaltella berlesei is perfectly adapted to the climate of upper 

 Italy. It multiplies most actively in the milder regions (Genoa, Lac 

 de Garde) rather than in the colder regions (Piedmont) where it has 

 probably one or two generations less. 



(2) Excessive cold is not injurious to the parasite. 



(3) The diffusive intensity of the parasite is so great that it will 

 disperse throughout upper Italy even without being aided artificially. 

 Professor Berlese prophesies that during 1912 Liguria and Venetia 

 will be for the great part freed from the Diaspis, and that the same 

 condition will be reached for Lombardy in 1913 and for Piedmont in 

 1914. 



(French abstract by Dr. Caterina Samsonoff; En-^lish translation 

 by L. 0. Howard.) 



