. 31 



had onco called hi.s attention to a tree on the grounds of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture thickly covered with the Putnam scale {Aspldio- 

 tus micylus), upon which were feeding a number of the twice-stabbed 

 ladybird larvte. These were the first larvfe of this species which he 

 had noted last summer, as the}^ were unusually scarce. Repeated 

 attempts to ol)tain the eggs from either the captured adults or other 

 beetles reared in confinement had resulted in disappointment. He 

 expressed a desire to compare eggs of this species Avith those of 

 Chllocorus slviilifi. He was not aware that the e^i^^ of any CIiUocotus 

 had been previously described, which accounted for the difiiculty 

 experienced in finding the eggs. There were only two beetles of the 

 Japanese lad}' bird left in the spring, and the absorbing problem with 

 him had been to find the eggs. Some one had suggested that these 

 might be found in clusters on the surface of the bark, but this did not 

 prove to be the case. He had frequently turned up the scales upon 

 traversed twigs to see whether the scale insects were edible, and in 

 the course of these examinations had discovered underneath the scale 

 something which had at first l)cen taken to be a parasite of the scale 

 insect, but which upon closer examination proved to be the ^^^ of 

 Ghilocorus slui. llli't. 



Mr. Howard remarked that he was not aware of other careful obser- 

 vations upon the life history of Coccinellids in this countr}- except the 

 series of Mr. Marlatt and Mr. Kotinsk}^ and those made by Mr. 

 Coquillet in California, antl his recollection was that the total life from 

 Qg^ to adult of Vedalia cardinal is in California was much shorter than 

 the life histories which Mr. Burgess had followed in Massachusetts. 



Mr. Coquillet stated that his observations on those ladybirds in 

 California had been so long ago that the details had passed from his 

 mind. 



Mr. Fiske stated in relation to the life history of Chilocorus hivuhierus 

 in Georgia that he considered it a most valuable species from an eco- 

 nomic standpoint, and that he had had a good many opportunities to 

 observe its younger stages and to observe it throughout the year. The 

 eggs had been for a long time unknown to him, but last spring he had 

 found them in considerable (|uantities upon old peach trees infested 

 with the cherry sciile, and the eggs were situated under the scales on 

 the bark. At the time they were found they Avere brown in color 

 instead of yellow, as he had expected. They were not reared to full 

 maturity. He mentioned a very interesting instance which had 

 occurred in Georgia the present year indicating the value of ladybirds. 

 The season had been very long and unusually dry and the plant-lice 

 had had an unusually good opportunity for development; especially 

 was this true of the cotton aphis. Although this insect usually dis- 

 appears about the first or middle of June, it continued the present year 

 up until the 1st of July and threatened to do considerable damage. 



