J. Hudson. — Note o)i Blights. Ill 



Art. XIV.— iVoie on Blights. 

 By James Hudson, M.B. 



[Bead before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 4th March, 1890.] 

 Plate VIIIa. 



I. DaCTYLOPIUS CALCK0LAIIIJ2. 



The chief point of interest abont this was its extreme 

 <lestructiveness and rapidity of multiplicaiion, equalhng that 

 of the Aphides. In the course of six weeks from the time 

 when it was first observed it completely killed a large 

 doliehos covering one side of a house. Syringing with kero- 

 sene and soft-soap had apparently no effect. 



II. Lecanium hispidum. 



This blight infests orange- and lemon-trees, secretes honey- 

 dew, and consequently renders the tree unsightly from the 

 growth of black fungus. I observed a few specimens last 

 summer (1888-89) ; during the winter they were almost sta- 

 tionary, but about last October they increased enormously, 

 and in January there was not a leaf or bit of stem of one 

 lemon-tree but what was infested with them. One evening 

 last month I observed a small larva eating the crown of one 

 of these Lecania, and I am now happy to say that I have 

 since discovered adult lady-birds and numerous larvae, all of 

 which may be observed preying on the Lecania. I have 

 submitted the lady-birds and their larvas to Mr. G. V. Hud- 

 son, of Wellington, who informs me that it is a species of 

 Rhy,iohins, belonging to the lady-bird family, but not a 

 Coccinella. He kindly furnished me with magnified drawings 

 of the larva and perfect insect, which I append. 



[Note in January, 1891. — Luring the winter, both blight 

 and lady-birds completely disappeared, and the tree now 

 looks as clean and healthy as I could wish it. It is interest- 

 ing to think where the lady-birds could have come from. 

 They came, did their work, and then disappeared. Mr. G. V. 

 Hudson is corresponding with English entomologists in order 

 to exactly identify the species.] 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE VIIIa. 



Fig. 1. Rhyzobius. 

 Fig. 2. Laiva of same. 



