334 



P. pergandei, A. perniciosiis. and A. ancylus, the latter mainly 

 on pecan. The Cuban species, Aschersonia cubensis. infests Toumey- 

 ella liriodendri on banana shrub and magnolia, Pulvinaria pyriformis 

 on guava, swamp baj^ [Tamala puhescens), Ilex cassine, avocado, 

 camphor, cinnamon, etc., and Eucalymnatus tessellatus on mango 

 from Porto Rico. The turbinate fungus, A. turhinata, controls 

 Ceroplastes floridensis (Florida wax scale), which infests Citrus and 

 many other plants. 



The red whitefly-fungus, A. alcurodis, is an important factor in the 

 control of Dialeurodes citri (common whitefiy) and D. citrifolii (cloudy- 

 winged whitefly) on Citrus, and has also been found infesting a whitefiy, 

 probably Bemesia inconspicua, on sweet potato and an unidentified 

 black Aleurodid. The yellow whitefly-fungus, A . flavocitrina, is very 

 effective against D. citrifolii. The brown whitefly-fungus, Aegerita 

 webberi, infests D. citri and D. citrifolii, and continues to thrive late 

 in the season after the dry weather has begun. The white fringe 

 fungus, which is an unidentified species of Microcera, is so universally 

 present, destroying the larvae of D. citri and D. citrifolii whenever 

 weather conditions are favourable, that its artificial propagation has 

 not been undertaken . The cinnamon fungus, Verticillium hcterocladum 

 is widely distributed on whitefly larvae and the scales P. pergandei, 

 L. glover i, L. beckii, and others. 



The principal predators of scale-insects and whiteflies are the 

 Coccinellids, Novius cardinalis, introduced from Australia ; Chilocorus 

 hivulneriis, feeding chiefly on the armoured scales ; Delphasius 

 catalinae and D. pusillus, which feed on the eggs of whiteflies ; and 

 Cycloneda munda and Hippodamia convergens, which devour some 

 scales, though their preferred food is Aphids. Other predaceous 

 enemies are the Tenebrionid beetle, Epitragus tonicntosus ; the larvae 

 of Chrysopa spp. (lace-wing flies) and Hemerobius spp. ; a Pyralid 

 larva, Laetilia coccidivora ; and Syrphid larvae. 



Parasites are numerous, particularly in colonies of Coccus hesperidum 

 (soft brown scale), and include Braconids and Chalcids, such as 

 Eretmocerus haldemani, which effectively controls the woolly w'hitefly, 

 Aleurothrixus howardi. The Agromyzid fly, Cryptochaetum monophlebi, 

 introduced from Australia, is very efficient in destroying the cottony- 

 cushion scale [ I eery a purchasi], 



Chaffin (J.). Mealy-bugs. — Qtrly. Bull. Florida State PL Bd., 

 Gainesville, v, no. 3, April 1921, pp. 154-158. 



Nearly every fruit and plant grown in Florida is attacked by mealy- 

 bugs, which are very serious pests of Citrus, and do considerable 

 damage in greenhouses and ornamental nurseries, and sometimes 

 attack the roots of peanuts, cowpeas and other plants. Many of them 

 are destroyed by natural enemies, such as the caterpillars of Laetilia 

 coccidivora, several species of Coccinellids, and the larvae of Syrphids 

 and lace- wing flies [Chrysopa spp.]. It is during dry seasons in spring 

 and summer that the greatest damage is done in Citrus groves. Grape- 

 fruit is the preferred food-plant, oranges and other species of Citrus 

 also being attacked. 



There are some 50 species of mealy-bugs in Florida, but only a few 

 of them have any economic importance. The chief is Pseudococcus 

 citri, which occurs throughout the State, and is most injurious to 

 Citrus, besides attacking numerous other plants ; there are often as 



