INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



147 



Natural Enemies. — The internal hymenopterous parasite. Comys 

 fusca, plays a very important part in the control of this scale and is 

 undoubtedly responsible for its not being- serious year after year. If 

 the scales are examined in .March and April when the eggs are laid 

 it will be noticed that many are decidedly dark and if these are 

 turned over no eggs will be found. In practically every such case, 



Fig. 125. — The Europeai. fruit Lecanium, Lecanium comi 

 Bouche. Mature females or, apricot. Natural size. (Original. 

 Photo by State Hort. Com.) 



if the scale is dissected, a pupa of the parasite will be disclosed. In 

 many instances as high as 95 per cent of the scales arc parasitized. 

 The adult parasites begin to issue about the middle of May when 

 the eggs are hatching and at once lay their eggs in the young scales. 

 The eggs hatch in the bodies and develop along with the scales. Even 

 where the parasitism occurs the scale for that year mature and do 

 all the damage of perfectly healthy ones before they are killed. Egg- 

 laying, however, is averted and the succeeding year's brood materially 

 decreased. 



