8 REPORT ON PARASITES AND PREDACEOUS INSECTS. 



large numbers. Cryptolzemus was found in two forms, C. Montrouzieri 

 and C. australis. The larvae of these are peculiar, as they are covered 

 above with contiguous, white, mealy, secreted appendages; they feed 

 chiefly upon mealy bugs (Dactylopms). The first named species, which 

 was sent here in large numbers, is also doing good work in feeding upon 

 the various black scales. 



Bucolus is closely related to Cryptolsemus, and two forms were sent 

 here. Probably the most valuable of all the scale-feeding C occinellidse. 

 are the Rhizobiids. This group is very largely represented in Australia, 

 and only a few forms are reported from other parts of the world. 

 America had none previous to this importation. The insects are closely 

 related to our Scymnids, but some of the species are much larger. They 

 feed upon all sorts of scales, and their larva? were found at all times 

 during the year in Australia. Some fifteen species, nearly all unknown 

 to science, were sent here. 



Scymnodes also resembles Rhozobius; but one species, S. Koebelei, Black- 

 burn, and a variety of the same, named varipes, were sent here. These 

 are expected to feed upon black scales and Chionaspids. Erithionyx is 

 quite a large black beetle covered with short, yellowish-brown hairs; 

 the one species, E. lanosus, was found feeding on Chionaspis, upon orange 

 trees infested with black scale, and was repeatedly sent here. These 

 species were liberated by you upon Lecanium. 



Scymnus is known to almost every one; we know the value of our 

 S. marginicollis in California, and the good work it is able to do upon a 

 variety of scales. I have so far eight species named from Australia 

 and a number from New Zealand, which were sent here. These can be 

 expected to feed upon most of our coccids. 



Mydus resembles a Scymnid, and M. pygmseus, feeding upon mealy 

 bugs, was sent here; and there are a number of groups of small, 

 roundish C occinellidse, of which Gymnoscymnus, Cycloscymus, Libernes, 

 Cyreme, and Serangium, found upon a variety of coccids, were sent 

 here. 



As to the aphis-feeding C occinellidse, all the species that could be 

 obtained were collected and forwarded. Some of these will not only 

 feed upon plant-lice, but will also live upon scale insects. Coccinella 

 antipodum has only been found by me to prey upon scales in New Zea- 

 land. Coccinella arcuata was found in southern Queensland feeding 

 upon the orange aphis, but on the Richmond River, New South Wales, 

 the same insect was feeding upon Lecanium filicum on a fern, and again 

 at Levuca, Fiji, it was feeding upon an Aleurodes on taro leaves. Leis 

 conformis, which feeds on plant-lice, Avill, after these have all disap- 

 peared, begin its destructive work upon the woolly aphis, of which it 

 cleans whole orchards, as observed in South Australia and Victoria. 



In all, some forty thousand specimens of ladybirds were collected by 

 me during this last trip, and forwarded to California, and I can say pos- 

 itively that no mistake was made in sending anything but beneficial 

 insects. 



It was timely discovered that nearly all the larva? of the ladybirds in 

 Australia are preyed upon by parasites, in certain instances almost 

 destroying all of these. The pupa? are also preyed upon by chalcid 

 parasites, and in consequence only the mature insects were sent, thus 

 leaving all their enemies behind, and we shall thereby have the benefit 

 of the work of these insects without the detriment of the parasites prey- 

 ing upon them. 



