429 



first 25 days of fixation, but it continued to be formed to a slight extent 

 until hibernation. In 1913, the first deposit was observed on 4th 

 August and reached a maximum on 23rd August. By the first week 

 in September the leaves, fruit and branches were covered with a layer 

 •of honeydew and black fungus spores. Hibernation began about 

 12th November; the mortahty during this period was less than 

 10 per cent, at Mont Alto, but on poorly nourished trees amounted to 

 54 per cent. 



The follo^^^ng species of ants were attracted by the honeydew of the 

 female scale : — Formica truncicola, Nyl., subsp. integra, Nyl. ; F.fusca, 

 L., var. subsericea, Say ; Lasiiis niger, L. var. americanus, Emery ; 

 Prenolepis imparts, Say. During the process of migration to the twigs, 

 female larvae were attacked by several predaceous enemies. The 

 iacewing, CJinjsopa nigricornis, Burm., the larvae of Hemerobius 

 stigmaterus, Fitch, the Capsid bug, Camptobrochis nebidosus, Uhl., and 

 the Coccinelhds, Hyperaspis signata and Chilocorus bivulnerus (twice- 

 stabbed lady-bird), were of minor importance in this connection. The 

 predaceous Pp'ahd, Laetilia coccidivora, Comst., was present in con- 

 siderable numbers in 1913, and under favourable conditions should 

 prove of importance in controlling E. nigrofasciatum. The eggs are 

 deposited singly among the scales, probably during the first half of 

 June, and hatch in about six days. A silken tube is constructed 

 between the scales of gravid females, and beneath this the larvae feed 

 and construct cocoons. The pupal period lasted about 10 days. 

 Adults emerge in August and give rise to a second generation which 

 attacks the young females. The effectiveness of this Pyrahd is however 

 greatly lessened owing to the fact that it is heavily parasitised by 

 Mesostenus thoracicus, Cress., and an undescribed species of Habro- 

 bracon. The Coccinellid, Hyperaspis binotata, Say, caused heavy 

 mortahty in both 1912 and 1913 among young scales [see this Review, 

 Ser. A, iv, p. 282]. Parasitic enemies mainly attack female scales after 

 the second instar. Coccophagus lecanii. Fitch, was abundant in 1912, 

 but in 1913 its place was taken by C. cognatus, Howard. The latter 

 species attacked developing females in the spring, causing a mortahty 

 of from 20 to 50 per cent. Emergence from the host occurred about 

 30th June. Later, the same species destroyed about 5 per cent, of 

 males in the second instar. Aphycus stomachosus, Gir., was reared 

 from nearly mature females early in June and again from individuals 

 of the next generation in September. Blastoihrix sericae, Dalm., and 

 examples of a new genus of Encyrtidae were also reared. The 

 foUo^nng additional parasites of E. nigrofasciatum have been recorded : 

 Coccophagus ater, How. ; C. cinguliventris, Gir. ; C. longifasciatus. 

 How. ; C. flavoscutellum, Ashm. ; C. fraternus. How. ; Aphycus 

 annulipes, Ashm. ; A. johnsoni, How. ; Anagyrus nubilipennis, Gir. ; 

 Evnotus lividus, Ashm. ; Pachyneuron altiscuta. How. (secondary) ; 

 Prospalta aurantii. How. ; CMloneurus albicornis. How., and Corny s 

 fusca, How. 



The gi'owth of sooty moulds on the honeydew reaches a maximum 

 about the middle of (September, and hence the most serious injury is 

 caused to late ripening varieties of peaches. 



A series of experim^ents was undertaken to determine the most 

 suitable methods for controlUng E. nigrofasciatum. During the first 

 season efforts were made to prevent soot injury both by controlling 



