discoveey of cryptognatha flavescens. 19 



Discovery of the Citrus White Fly at Saharanpur. 



An examination of orange trees at Saharanpur soon led to the dis- 

 covery of the citrus white fly, and subsequent search revealed the 

 fact that it was of general distribution hereabouts. The insect at 

 this time had reached the pupal stage. Specimens of the fly could be 

 found on practically all trees examined, but the infestation was so 

 light that the insect was in no way a serious pest. Of the insects 

 infestmg the leaves only a small percentage was living. The trees 

 contaming the largest number of living insects were noted to be the 

 ones with the densest foliage and those protected by large over- 

 shado^vulg ornamental trees. In no instance was a tree affected by 

 " soot J mold" (Meliolasp.). , 



Discovery of Cryptognatha flavescens, the Lady-Beetle 

 Enemy of the Citrus White Fly. 



Closely following the discovery of the white fly, several minute 

 larvae of a coccinellid were seen on fly-mfested trees, and later it was 

 found that these were feedmg on the young pupas of the white fly. 

 This happy discovery proved conclusively that Aleyrodes citri is 

 attacked by a natural enemy in its native home, and thus one part 

 of the mission on which the writer had been sent was successfufly 

 fulfilled. Later developments showed that the adults of tliis species 

 were small reddish-brown beetles, about one-tenth of an inch in 

 length. 



. Several days were spent in a careful and exhaustive search through- 

 out this region, with the result of finding about 200 specimens of the 

 lady-beetle. These were collectfd by placing large sheets of cloth 

 underneath the trees early in the morning before the insects had 

 become active and then beating the branches with sticks. In this 

 manner much ground could be covered in a short time. 



About 100 specimens of the insect were placed in a small, specially 

 made wooden box containing two chambers coimiected by an opening 

 about the size of a 50-cent piece. One of these chambers v/as loosely 

 filled with damp sphagnum moss, the other with dry fiber from a 

 palm tree. Such pacldng allowed the insects free movement and at 

 the same time reduced possible injury from rough usage to a mini- 

 mum. The box was so constructed as to allow necessary aeration. 



This box was forwarded to the American consul-general at Cal- 

 cutta, who placed the same in the personal charge of the captain of 

 a cargo steamer sailing direct from Calcutta to the United States. 

 All insects had died before their arrival in Florida. 



A second sending made by letter mail also failed to come through 

 ■ in good condition. 



This beetle was identified by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of the Bureau of 

 Entomology, as Cryptognatha Jlavescens Motsch. 



