237 



cottony cushion scale [I eery a purchasi], and a colony of Novius 

 cardinalis has been promised as soon as available. Colonies of various 

 beneficial insects, principally Novius cardinalis, Cryptolaemus mon- 

 trouzieri, Cryptochaetmn {Lestophonus) iceryae and Paraleptomastix 

 have been sent to Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Arizona. Colonies 

 of a Coccinellid, Delphastus, feeding on Aleurodids have also been 

 sent to Florida where they now occur in tens of thousands in the 

 citrus orchards and are doing a remarkable amount of good. In 

 return for this, colonies of Laetilia coccidivora, a moth predaceous 

 on various scale-insects, have been received from Florida. A colony 

 of a species of Scymnus, an enemy of mealy-bugs has been received 

 from the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Station, and a consignment of 

 Pauridia peregrina, an internal parasite of the Japanese mealy-bug, 

 Pseudococcus kraunhiae, is in course of preparation, an outbreak of 

 this pest having recently occurred in one locality. During the spring 

 of 1918, two colonies, comprising a total of 1,000 individuals of 

 Calosotna sycophanta, a Carabid beetle predaceous on tree-infesting 

 caterpillars, were received from Massachusetts. This beetle introduced 

 from France to destroy the gipsy moth [Porthetria dispar] has proved 

 so successful, being particularly valuable against tree-infesting cater- 

 pillars, that it has been introduced into three districts in California 

 against the forest tent caterpillar [Malacosotna disstria], the Cali- 

 fornian oak moth [Phryganidia californica], and the brown day moth 

 [Pseudohazis eglanterina] respectively, though it remains to be seen 

 whether the beetle will thrive on these species. 



During the season about 75,000,000 individuals of the Aphid- 

 destroying Coccinellid, Hippodamia convergens, were distributed to 

 the farmers and fruit-growers in the State. 



Brann (F. R.). Factors concerning the Drop of Immature Citrus 

 Fruit in Central Calif ornia.— M^/i^?/. Bull. Cal. State Commiss. 

 Hortie., Sacramento, viii, no. 2, February 1919, pp. 74-75. 

 The fall of citrus fruits, which occurs when the fruit is first formed 

 in April, is caused to some extent by insect pests. Of these, Coccus 

 citricola, Campb. (grey scale), Scirtothrips citri, Moult, (citrus thrips), 

 Toxoptera aurantiae, Koch (black citrus aphis), and Myzus {Rhopalo- 

 siphum) persicae, Sulzer (green peach aphis), damage a certain propor- 

 tion of the fruit, and though under normal conditions the effect on 

 the fall is comparatively slight, in cases of severe infestation by 

 C. citricola, the weakened fruit is rather seriously attacked by thrips 

 and Aphids. The citrus thrips is checked more by wet winters than by 

 any other factor, and Aphids, enormous numbers of which are produced 

 on cover crops, are best controlled by the Coccinellid, Hippodamia 

 ■convergens, if arsenical sprays are kept off the trees. Katydids are 

 not a serious pest and are held in check by birds and an egg-parasite, 

 Eupelmus mirabilis. 



Maskew (F.). Quarantine Division. Report for the Month of 



December, 1918. — Mthly. Bull. Cal. State Commiss. Hortie., 



SacramoUo, viii, no. 2, February 1919, pp. 84-86. 



The following insect pests were intercepted during December : — 



From Australia : Ptinids in seeds of Ceratonia siliqna. From Central 



America : Pseudococcus spp. and Aspidiotus cyanophylli on bananas. 



