tA 



n 



i M.IFORNTIA STATE HOEtTICUl/TURAL COMMISSION. 



Rhizobius debelis. This is another one of the introduced species of 

 ladybirds which we owe to Australia. It is a scale-feeder and has been 

 very generally distributed in the State. 



Cryptolsemus montrouzeri. (Fig. 5.) This is another of the Austra- 

 lian coccinellidaa. It is the natural enemy 

 of the mealy bug {Pseudococcus [Dactylo- 

 pius] ) . It has been introduced into the 

 Hawaiian Islands, where this pest was so 

 bad in the coffee plantations as to almost 

 threaten the total destruction of the crop, 

 and it has done such good work that the 

 pest has been practically cleaned out. Suc- 

 cessful efforts have also been made to estab- 

 lish it in the coffee plantations of Central 

 America, where the mealy bug has also ap- 

 peared in destructive numbers. 



FIG 



Cryptolsemus montrouzeri, 

 enlarged. 



Hyperaspis lateralis, Mulsant. This is one of our native ladybirds 

 and is very generally distributed over the State. It is a small, black 

 ladybird, with two reddish-yellow spots on the elytra, near the apex, 

 two spots on the disc, and two blotches of the same color on the for- 

 ward lateral margins. Forehead and edge of thorax yellow. Feeds on 

 pernicious scale in the adult form. Cypress trees {Cupressus macro- 

 carpa) in the suburbs of San Francisco that were seriously infested 

 with the cypress mealy bug {Pseudococcus [Dactylopius] ryani) were 

 cleared of the pest by this ladybird. The larvse of this species are 

 covere.d with a cottony secretion and resemble mealy bugs. 



Exoehomus pilati, Mulsant. (Fig. 6.) This is another of our very 

 common native ladybirds. It resembles in 

 general appearance the twice-stabbed lady- 

 bird (CJtilocorus [bivulnerus] f rat emus) , 

 but is much larger. It also differs from the 

 latter in having the under side of the ex- 

 tremity of the abdomen black, instead of red. 

 The larvae resemble the twice-stabbed, but 

 are larger and lighter-colored. Both the 



larva and beetle feed upon young black scale, but they do not increase 



very rapidly. 



Chiloeorus (bivulnerus) fraternus (Twice-stabbed ladybird). (Plate 

 III, Figs. 3, 3a.) This is one of our most important native ladybirds. 

 The larvse are most voracious, and destroy great numbers of young 

 black, pernicious, and other scales. Tbe young arc long and covered 



Fio. 6. Exoehomus pilati 



