20 



and predaceous insects, the cottony cusliion scale [Icerya purchasi, 

 Mask.] being attacked by Novius cardinalis and the larvae of the 

 moths, Laetilia coccidivora and Pyroderces rileyi, also by the Agromyzid 

 fly, Cryptochaetum tnonophlebi, Skuse, introduced into California from 

 Australia. The green shield-scale [Pulimiuria psidii, Mask.] is also 

 attacked by the above-mentioned moth larvae, and by another 

 Agromyzid, Leucopis nigricornis, Egger. 



Mealy-bugs do not often become a pest in Florida, but colonies 

 of the Sicilian mealy-bug parasite, Parleptomastix abnormis, from 

 California have recently been received and colonised in different 

 parts of Florida [see this Review, Ser. A, v, p. 285]. The Florida 

 wax scale [Cerophstes floridensis., C()^^^] is frequentl)' parasitised by 

 the fungus, Aschersonia turbinata. 



Fungus parasites of scale-insects are generally introduced into 

 scale-infested trees by tying pieces of twig, bark, or other material 

 having fungus upon it, on to the limbs where scales are most abundant 

 in such a manner that rains will wash the spores down over the masses 

 of scales, the period of summer rains being the proper time for this 

 operation. Another method of introduction is by spraying a mixture 

 of spores in water into the infested trees. The chief scale fimgi are : — 

 Red-headed scale fimgus {Sphaerostilbe coccophila), which has been 

 found destroying many species, including purple scale [Lepidosaphes 

 beckii, Newm.], long scale [L. ghveri, Pack.], San Jose scale 

 [Aspidiotus perniciosus, Comst.], oleander or chinaberry scale 

 [A. hederae, Vail.], chaff scale [Parlatoria pergandei, Comst.], California 

 red scale [Chrysomphalus aurantii, Mask.] and the latania scale 

 [Aspidiotus lataniae, Sign.] ; white-headed scale fimgus [Ophionectra 

 coccicola), which has much the same distribution and appears to be the 

 earliest recorded scale-fungus in Florida, being the most efficient 

 destroyer of Lepidosaphes beckii, L. ghveri, and Parlatoria pergayidei ; 

 black scale fungus {Myriangium duriaei), widely distributed and 

 occurring on the three last-mentioned scales and also on the citrus 

 snow scale [Chionaspis citri] ; pink scale fungus {Microcera fujikuroi), 

 widely distributed in Florida and Japan, and particularly effective 

 on Florida red scale [Chrysomphalus aonidum] ; turbinate fungus 

 {Aschersonia turbinata), which is the common parasite of the Florida 

 wax scale [Ceroplastes floridensis, Comst.] and probably infests other 

 so-called soft scales, though it has undoubtedly been mistaken for 

 A. cubensis, which has been positively identified infecting Toumeyella 

 liriodendri, Gmel., and Eucalymn/itus tessellatus, Sign. 



Some contact insecticides prepared according to Mr. Yothers' 

 formulae are : — (1) Fish-oil soap 2 gals., mixed with water 1 gal., to 

 which are added 3 gals. Diamond paraffin or other lubricating oil 

 (24—28° Be.), the mixture being stirred vigorously or pumped back 

 into itself several times till emulsified ; for spraying citrus trees, 



1 gal. must be diluted with from 50-100 gals, water ; for spraying in 

 late autumn, winter, and early spring 1 part in 50 or 60 of water must 

 be used ; for dormant deciduous trees without foliage 1 part in 10 parts 

 water may be used ; (2) fish-oil soap 1 gal, water 1 gal., oil (as before) 



2 gals., to be prepared and diluted as in (1) ; (3) fish-oil soap or 

 laundry soap 2 lb., water (to make 4 U.S. gals, of stock solution) about 

 If U.S. gals., oil (as before) 2 U.S. gals., the mixture to be heated to 

 boiling point, stirred and diluted as in formula (1). 



