572 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



in the lateral view in Fig. 370, and docs all of the feeling with the 

 lips. These she moves very rapidly and when a suitable host has been 

 found turns around and punctures it with the ovipositor and deposits 

 the egg. From observation it is very probable that she deposits but 

 one egg in an individual. When touched or disturbed she jumps and 

 may even fly away. She rests with the body close to the supporting 

 fruit or leaf, with the legs spread out at the sides and the antennae 

 flattened out in front, not unlike two long front legs. It was possible to 

 obtain a large number of these internal parasites from small breeding 

 cages filled with adult mealy bugs and their egg masses, but the good 

 they do is very difficult to estimate. Great numbers were kept confined 

 lor a year, but the number of mealy bugs increased enormously while 

 the parasites almost entirely disappeared. In mounting hundreds of 

 adult mealy bugs I have been unable to procure one that contained the 

 larval form of the parasites, but the empty skins from which the adults 

 issued are plentiful en the trees in the orchards. 



Distribution. — This parasite is found in the southern part of the 

 State and reported only in Ventura County. 



Hosts.— The only recorded hosts are half-grown and adult mealy 

 bugs, Pseiidococcus citri (Risso). 



THE PARASITE OF THE EUROPEAN FRUIT LECANIUM 



Comys fusca Howard (Family Encyrtidae) 

 (Fig. 371) 



Description. — The adults of this parasite are about £ inch long and 

 rich brown throughout in color. The wings are clouded with brown- 



i s h markings, t h e 

 bases remaining clear 

 and when folded 

 over the back form 

 a silver-like spot 

 which is very notice- 

 % able when the insect 

 / is walking. The veins 

 are black. The tips 

 of the legs are yel- 

 lowish w i t h dark 

 claws. 



Distribution. — This 

 is one of the most, 

 common parasites, oc- 

 curring in all parts 

 of the State. 



Hosts. -Of all the 

 internal parasites of 

 scale insects, this is one of the most efficient and is often quite a 

 controlling factor in keeping down the European fruit Lecanium 

 {Lecanium corni Bouche). The writer has also reared this parasite 



Fig. 371. — The European fruit Lecanium parasite, Comys 

 fusca How. Adult female greatly enlarged. (Drawing By 

 Birdnekoff, Mo. Bui. Gal. Hort. Com.) 



