358 



Some study was made of insects injurious to Citrus in Australia, 

 and where they were identical with or closely related to those attacking 

 Citrus in California their parasites were investigated with a view to 

 introducing them into California. 



Saissetia oleae is largely preyed upon in Australia by the larvae of 

 a Noctuid moth, EiMemma {Thalpochares) cocciphaga, which devours 

 all stages of the scale, but seems to prefer the eggs. The larva makes a 

 case of the remains of its host, under which it moves along the twigs in 

 search of further prey. A new generation of this moth has been 

 successfully reared in California, and it is hoped shortly to be able 

 to introduce it into the citrus groves. It is the most promising of the 

 material brought from Australia. 



From various Australian species of Pseudococcus (mealy-bug) two 

 primary parasites, Leptomastix sp. and Anagrus sp., were transported 

 to California and liberated on Pseudococcus citri (citrus mealy-bug), 

 P. gahani (citrophilus mealy-bug) and P. maritimus. Although 

 Leptomastix sp. oviposited in both P. citri and P. gahani, no parasites 

 were reared from the material. Pachyneuron sp., a small Encyrtid, 

 and Tetracnemus sp., all internal parasites of Pseudococcus aurihnatus 

 fgolden mealy-bug), were introduced from Australia and released upon 

 P. aurilanatus ; it is too early to know whether this is a successful 

 importation. Pachyneuron sp. was also released upon Pseudococcus 

 maritimus and oviposited readily on that species, but did not develop. 

 A small Coccinellid, Midas pygm'aeus, was also collected on mealy-bugs 

 in Australia and brought in a living condition to California. It preys 

 readily on Pseudococcus citri and seems a promising addition to the 

 imported enemies of mealy-bugs. 



De Ong (E. R.). What hinders Dried Fruit Sales.— M^%. Bull. Cat. 

 State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, viii, no. 5, May 1919, pp. 

 240-243, 4 figs. 



The manner of infestation of dried fruits by such insects as Plodia 

 inter punctella and Silvanus Surinam ensis . is described. The best 

 preventives of insect infestation are keeping the packing-house free 

 from all insect-breeding waste, thorough drying of all new stocks, 

 clearing out all stocks by the end of winter or early spring, or fumiga- 

 tion or sterilisation with heat in early spring of any stocks it is desired 

 to keep through part of the summer. Emphasis is laid on the necessity 

 for care in sterilising, fumigating or protective operations to secure 

 the maximum benefit, and in prerenting the access of all insects to 

 fruit after it has been treated, either while drying, being packed or 

 after it is in the shipping case. 



CocKERELL (T. D. A.). The Girasole or Jerusalem Artichoke. — Mthly. 

 Bull. Cal. State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, viii, no. 5, May 

 1919, pp. 243-250, 7 figs. 



Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) in California suffers from 

 no serious pests, though a species of cutworm, probably Euxoa agrestis, 

 destroys a number of the seedlings. In Iowa, however, the plant is 

 largely damaged by a root Aphid, whUe a mealy-bug, Pseudococcus 

 trifolii, also infests the tubers. 



