76 



ing the season of ISOC) a iiumber of colonies both of Rhizobius and 

 Scymnus. In all, sexeral hundred specimens were brought into the 

 State and distributed in the more southern counties, where the 

 climate is mildest and conditions generally more favorable than in 

 the north, and in each instance where there was an abundance of food 

 for them. Tlie colonies were scattered so that anything happening 

 in one section might not allect the entire exj^teriment. The results 

 were absolute failu.res. Xothing more was seen of either species at 

 an}' subsequent period. 



At the same time 1 entered into correspondence with Professor 

 Matsumu.ra, of Japan. This resulted in the introduction into New 

 Jersey of a small series of Cliilocorns Kim His Rossi, the Asiatic lady 

 beetle of which we have heard so much during the past year or two. 

 Some eighty specimens were contained in the sending and of these 

 nineteen were alive and in apparently good condition. I placed them 

 out myself under favorable circumstances on ]\Iay 2^, in a locality 

 where food was abundant and where conditions might be supposed to 

 be of the best. For a few days afterwards the insects w'ere seen, some 

 of them were noted as feeding, and there is no doubt that they lived 

 for a short period. There is no doubt, either, that they died off, for 

 nothing was seen of them in that same orchard after midsummer, or 

 at any time since. Nothing more was done in this matter wntil after 

 Mr. Marlatt had succeeded in securing specimens from China and 

 Japan and had actually established them in Washington, D. C. 



During the latter part of 1902 I secured, through the courtesy of 

 the Department of Agriculture, sufficient specimens of Chilocorus 

 .si/iulis to colonize on two infested trees in my own garden, wdiere they 

 were under constant observation. These insects multiplied to some 

 extent during the year, hibernated very fairly, and had only one 

 draAvback — they became pretty well parasitized before the season was 

 over. In 1003, while the parasites were A^ery active, I succeeded in 

 getting increase enough to send out 15 colonies, and with what w^as 

 received from "Washington some 400 individuals were distributed in 

 different parts of southern New Jersey. It will be noted that the rate 

 of increase is not especially great. Out of perhaps 30 ladybirds 

 received, only al)ont 3^0 were actually obtained after a year under 

 the most favorable circumstances. 



The winter of 1903-4 was an unusually hard one, not that the 

 temperature was lower than usual, because, as a matter of fact, it did 

 not reach the lowest point of the year before; but the cold was con- 

 tinuous and there were several unusually heav}^ late frosts. AMiether 

 on tills account or for some other reason which I have not been able 

 to discover, the colonies in all parts of the State w^ere completely 

 exterminated. I have not seen an^nvhere even a single example of 

 this species. This report is not based altogether upon statements 



