BULLETIN NO. 32, MARCH, 1<SU5. 1.01 



the apple, has also been I'earetl at the J)e})artineiit from the scales taken 

 at Riverside. 



Among pi-edaceous insects which feed upon it, the following are 

 I'ecorded in my report, as U. S. Entomologist, as observed at Charlottes- 

 ville, Va. The common little Malachiid Beetle {Collops cjuadrimacidatus) 

 Avas observed feeding in small numbers upon the newly hatched larva?. 

 The Coccinellid beetle {Pentilia viisela) and its larvaj were very abundant on 

 the infested trees, and this species, Mr. Schwarz thinks, it a very important 

 enemy of the scale. The beetles seem to prefer the full-grown female scales, 

 while the larvaz- feed upon Aspidiotuslarvas. The larva? customarily trans- 

 form to the pupa state within the calyx of the pears. This little cavity was al- 

 ways found litei'ally tilled with a mass of young and old scales, full-grown 

 l\'ntilia larva" and pupa?, and recent imagoes. The fact thiit this beetle, 

 which is essentially an Eastern species, so readily and effectively began 

 to feed upon this introduced scale is a very interesting one, entomologic- 

 ally, and would justify an effort to introduce and colonize itiji Califoriiif. 



A few^ of the lady-birds introduced from Australia, have also been 

 found to prey upon it in California, and especially a steel-blue sjiecies, 

 Orcus australasice, and it would be well to bring specimens to the East. 



MODE OF SPREADING. 



It follows, from Avhat has alreatly been stated of tliis and other 

 allied species of scale-insects, that of their own accord thev can spread 

 but a very short distance annually. Indeed it is a question wliether the 

 insect could ever s})read from tree to tree wherever the ti'ees ai'e some 

 distance apart and the branches do not interlock, were it not for other 

 agencies which aid them. The princi})al methods ])y which these insects 

 are carried from one tree to another and from one i)lace to another, while; 

 yet in the newly hatched larval condition are, (1) by the agency of Avind, 

 (2) that of running Avater, (3) by l)eing carried upon the feet or feathers 

 and hair of birds or other animals, and (4) particularly by means of flyino- 

 and craAvling insects and gossamer sjjiders Avhich frequent the same 

 trees. In this connection I quote the folloAving from my last report as 

 United States Entomologist : 



"Some interesting observations Avere made by Mr. SchAvarz, upon the 

 transporting of the young Coccid larva? by other insects. This very Pen- 

 tilia Avas, unconsciously, an active agent in this dangerous Avoi-k. Hardly 

 one of the beetles could be found Avhich did not cany on its back at 

 least one Aspidiotus larva, and sometimes three oi- four Avere found ui)on 

 ii single Aving-cover of a beetle. A small black ant {Mo/iomofiu/n minu- 



