30 
Baroota, and he assumes that they came from that district. Such a 
large Coccid would be able to support several hundred of the Lesto- 
phonus. I have also bred this fly from a species of Celostoma found 
on ashrab at Mount Lofty, South Australia, where two specimens of 
Icerya were found, both invested by Lestophonus on a species of Acacia. 
In California we have to my knowledge no Scales upon which this fly 
would breed, with the exception of Pulvinaria and Dactylopius. Of the 
latter there are many species found almost everywhere; a large species 
almost equal in size to Icerya exists upon our Redwood trees (Sequoia). 
This no doubt will in time be attacked by the flies. I have not the least 
doubt that in time this Lestophonus will do effective work upon Icerya 
even if slow (too slow for the Americans, as Mr. Wolfskill remarked). 
So far 1 have seen little progress of it. On my visit to Los Angeles (April 
12), it seemed that very few remained of the vast number of flies re- 
ceived here in good condition. AJIl had been placed under one tent, 
erected over a tree for the purpose of propagating, instead of forming 
a new colony with every consignment received; yet it is to be hoped 
that very many of the flies have escaped from the tent. 
As far as the Lady-bird is concerned it will show itseif, or rather has 
done so already. They never were found by the writer except feeding 
upon Icerya, aud yet there must surely exist in Australia some other 
scales upon which they feed. The work this little insect is able to accom- 
plish is shown by the fact that by chance it went over to Auckland, New 
Zealand, where the Icerya was in a flourishing state, having destroyed 
nearly everything about five years or so since, and there cleared nearly 
the whole district around Auckland within about two years. From here 
it has spread south as far as Hawk’s Bay without any artificial help, 
everywhere increasing in numbers as long as the food would last. I 
shall be greatly mistaken if this one insect alone is not master of the 
situation within two years’ time, although we have comparatively few 
to battle with. It will need thousands everywhere to clean up the mill- 
ions of scales. I has no time while in the field to study much of the 
life-history of this valuable insect. My first motto was always “get as 
many as possible.” If once established here, the life history may be 
studied at leisure. 
I will, however, relate part of the doings of one pair of these insects. 
On February.9 a few beetles and pup were collected in a glass jar. 
Two male Lady-birds were noticed running and pushing around one of 
the pup in which one of the female Lady-birds had just issued and 
was within the case with soft and tender wings and about helpless. Soon 
the male succeeded in pushing her out, and immediately after this had 
been accomplished, one of them united with her at about 3 p.m. This 
pair were placed in a small wooden box and they remained in copula 
until the following morning at 7. They were left in this box until 
February 17, when they were placed in a large jar with twigs of Acacia 
fullofIceryas. Noeggs were observed in the box, which was completely 
