6 
LIFE, and elsewhere, have abundantly testified. They have more than 
justified the anticipations expressed in my last annual report: 
We fully expect to learn of the increase and rapid spread of this new in troduction 
as well as some of the other predaceous species which have been introduced, and to 
find that in a comparatively tew years thie orange groves of southern California will 
be kept measurably freed of the pernicious Fluted Scale without so great an effort on 
the part of the growers or so great expense in destroying it. That nature will, with 
the new conditions induced by these importations, come to the relief of the fruit- 
grower, and that this interesting experiment will result in the ultimate saving of 
untold millions to the people of the Pacific Coast is our sincere belief which we hope 
to see verified. Not that we expect the Icerya to be ever entirely exterminated ; 
but it will be kept under subjection so as to be comparatively harmless, as it is in its 
native country. : 
One of the insects imported, viz, the Cardinal Vedalia (Vedalia cardi- 
nalis Mulsant), has multiplied and increased to such an extent as to rid 
many of the orange groves from Icerya and to promise immunity in the 
near future for the entire State of California. In fact, the rapid multi- 
plication and the effective work of this little beetle are almost incom- 
prehensible until we come to consider its power of increase in a climate 
like that of southern California, where there is scarcely any cessation in 
its activities. 
A careful account of the transformations of the Vedalia has been pre- 
pared by Mr. Coquillett and was published in INsEcT LIFE for Sep- 
tember, 1889, pages 70 to 74. I reproduce the figures in connection with 
Mr. Koebele’s report in order to familiarize those who have not yet seen 
it with its appearance. I have also had some other figures made to ac- 
company the report. 
The period from the laying of the eggs until the adults again appear 
occupies less than thirty days for the Vedalia. At this rate of increase, 
calculating that three hundred eggs are laid by each female, and that 
one half of these produce females, it will readily be seen that in six 
months the offspring of a single female beetle may under favorable cir- 
cumstances amount to over twenty-two trillions. So far it has not been 
noticed to prey upon any other insect than the Fluted Scale, a fact which 
accounts somewhat for its exceptionally rapid work and renders the 
outlook extremely encouraging. 
Uf the other enemies of the Icerya referred to and more particularly 
mentioned in the latter part of Mr. Koebele’s report, none of them have 
so far given much promise, and there is risk of their not being colonized 
by virtue of the extraordinary spread and increase of the Vedalia, 
which has swept away from whole regions the Fluted Scale, upon which 
they depend. This contingency should have been avoided and I very 
much regret that they have not become established in California, be- 
cause their establishment, and especially that of the little Dipteron, 
Cryptochetum icerye, wotld have helped in the general subjection of 
the pest and would be particularly valuable whenever the Vedalia, for 
whatever reason, at any time practically forsakes a given locality. 
C. V. R. 
