50 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



that, in spito of these parasites, there still remained a goodly number 

 to oviposit and reproduce. 



The egg masses began to develop early in June, and by the middle 

 of the month many of them Avere apparently full sized. In Mont- 

 clair, where the worst-infested district was obserA'ed, the insects were 

 so abundant as to form continuous lines along the underside of many 

 of the infested twigs and branches. An examination of the egg 

 masses there and in other localities revealed the fact that some of 

 them were infested by the larva of Hyperaspis Hignata. 



This larva, because of the cottony-like waxy covering of the dorsal 

 surface, is well jjrotected among the egg masses, especially since it is 

 often found feeding Avithin the egg mass, when the latter may 

 appear perfectly normal. Often only a single larva infests an egg 

 mass; but sometimes more will be found, especially when they are 

 yoimg. On the other hand, a single larva may destroy a large pro- 

 ])ortion of the eggs in several masses. 



On June If), when the coccinellid larva? Avere first observed at 

 Montclair, a few of them Avere nearly, if not quite, full groAvn, Avhile 

 others Avere A^ery small. From this time on their iiumber increased 

 until the early part of July, Avhen they began to decrease. By 

 June 28, in Montclair, scarcely an egg mass could be found Avhich 

 Avas not or had not been infested by them. The first pupa? Avere 

 observed both in the laboratory and on the infested trees on June 24. 

 A feAV of the larva? at this time could be obserA'ed crawling on the 

 trunks of the trees and getting beneath the loose bark, Avhere the 

 pupa? Avere found. The pupa is broAvn in color, but coA'ered more 

 or less Avith the Avhite material from the cast larval skin. The 

 earliest pupa^ Avere found, as just stated, on the trunks of the trees 

 under the loose bark and in the crevices, and it has been stated that 

 the insect ahvays goes to these places to pupate. But this is not 

 the case, for most of the later pupa^ Avere found Avithin the eaten-out 

 egg masses. The truth is that flie insect desires to pupate in a pro- 

 tected situation. Avhether under the bark or elseAV'here. 



The first beetles to emerge in the laboratory Avere observed on 

 July 7 and came from pupa^ Avhich had been in that stage for tAvo 

 AA'eeks. It Avas about this time also that beetles Avere noted on tlie 

 infested trees, and they continued in evidence until the early part of 

 August, after Avhich no more were observed. While the larva of the 

 coccinellid fed on the eggs of the Pulvinaria, the beetle itself devoured 

 the young scales which set on the leaves. The young scale adheres 

 closely to tlie leaf, and it Avas interesting to Avatch the beetle in its 

 efforts to secure it. If the latter Avas not too closely set the beetle 

 Avould successfully pull it up and then rapidly devour it: but some- 

 times the scale Avas too securely fastened, and then the coccinellid, 



