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CALIFORNIA STATE HOBTICUIiTUEAL COMMISSION. 



and does as good work as the Vedaiia. The latter, however, was first 

 introduced, and its reputation became so great that all others were over- 

 shadowed by it. The Novius koebelei, however, has proved itself equally 

 as prolific and quite as voracious a devourer of the cottony cushion 

 scale as its companion. This ladybird is also an introduced species, 

 having been sent from Australia for the State Board of Horticulture 

 by Mr. Koebele on his second trip to that country. 



The illustrations give a good idea of this beautiful and active little 

 ladybird. It feeds upon the cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi), 

 searching out the solitary scales even better than the Vedaiia. It passes 

 through its different stages in about the same time as the latter. 



Novius koebelei, male, enlar; 



Novius koebelei, female, enlarged. 



Novius bellus (Beautiful ladybird). (Plate I, Fig. 3.) This is also 

 an Australian species, having been introduced into California from that 

 country by Mr. George Compere. It is one of the several coecinellid 

 enemies of the cottony cushion scale, and has done very excellent work 

 upon that pest. It has been generally distributed over the State. 



Vedaiia sp. (Plate I, Fig. 2.) This is an unnamed species of Vedaiia, 

 from its color commonly known as the "Black Vedaiia." It is also an 

 Australian species, introduced by the State Board of Horticulture 

 through Mr. George Compere, and is another of the coccinellids which 

 prey upon the cottony cushion scale. 



Rhizobius ventralis (Black ladybird). (Plate IV, Figs. 3, 3a, 36.) 

 This is also an Australian ladybird, introduced by the State Board of 

 Horticulture through Mr. Koebele, and is one of the natural enemies of 

 the black scale (Saisseta [Lecanium] oleae). This ladybird was intro- 

 duced for work on the black scale, and was generally distributed by 

 the State Board of Horticulture wherever that pest was found. It was 

 one of the most promising of the many importations of beneficial insects 

 and took hold of its work with a vigor that gave promise of soon extir- 

 pating one of the worst of the California scale insects. Wherever it was 

 introduced in the coast counties of the State, it increased with wonderful 



