THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 385 



expanse, is alsii an imj^drtant species in destroying; Lantana, as it lays its eggs 

 at the base of the flower cluster. On hatching, the minute caterpillar digs a 

 tunnel under the flowers and attacks and destroys them. The work of this 

 species on the flowers is supplemented by the work of two species of Lantana 

 butterflies ^ of the family * of gossamer-winged butterflies, both of which lay 

 their eggs on the flowers so that the young worms may feed on the blossoms and 

 fleshy seed. These caterpillars are so abundant among the Lantana of the 

 low lands that they occur in almost every flower. The larger species '•• has 

 delicate tails on the hind wings; the smaller species *" is without the tails. 



The Lantana leaf-miner i' is a moth that is also eftVetivc, since it develops 

 in the leaves up to the pupa or resting stage. Often as many as a half dozen 

 of these miners occur in a single leaf and thus produce a serious drain on the 

 plant's vitalit.v. A second leaf pest is the Lantana leaf -bug,'- which, being a 

 true bug, sucks its food. The young frequent the under side of the leaf and 

 are very destructive during the dry season. The Lantana gall-fly '^ also does 

 much damage to the pest host by laying its eggs in the stem of the plant. These 

 form galls that further impair the plant's growth. 



All of these insects were introduced for a definite purpose under the direc- 

 tion of the distinguished entomologist Mr. A. Koebele, and none of them have 

 been observed to attack other plants. This is the first example in the world 

 of the introduction of insects to prevent the spread of a plant. As time 

 passes, the success of this delicate and difficult piece of scientific work is more 

 and more fully appreciated by scientists as well as citizens. It furnishes 

 science with another convincing example of the value of the study of ento- 

 mology, and indicates the power of the sulitle influences in nature with which the 

 biologist is wont to deal. 



The Maui Blight. 



In speaking of Lantana insects, it is only just to say that the Lantana 

 blight or Lantana scale '^ or Maui blight, which is the great tea pest of 

 southern Asia, was not introduced by Mr. Koebele. It was first found at 

 WaiJuku, on Maui, in 1889. In 190i it was noted on Lantana on the wind- 

 ward side of the Pali, on Oahu. Since then it has spread even into Honolulu, 



^ Thecla spp. ^ Lyccenidw. 



L Cremastobombycia tantanella Bu.s 



' Orthezia ingignis. 



Descriptiok of Plate. 



1. Maui Bliglit or Lantana Scale {Orthezia insignis) on Lantana. "A well known 

 greenhouse pest of Europe and America. First observed on Maui, though not known by whom 

 or how introduced. Apparently a powerful enemy of Lantana, but unfortunately is destructive 

 also to a large variety of ornamental [ilants. ' ' 2. Excrement of American Toad (Bafo cohim- 

 hiensis). The Toad feeds very largely on the Japanese beetle. 3. Florida Red Scale 

 {Chrysomphalus ficus) on Citrus and Palm leaves. 4. Imported enemies of the Lantana 

 showing: (a) seed destroyed by fly; (b) and (c) butterflies whose young eat flowers and 

 leaves; (d) moth whose young eats the flowers; (e) injury caused by the leaf-miner; (f) 

 moth of the leaf-miner;- (g) its pupa; (h) the Lantana leaf-bug; (i) the gall and (j) the 

 fly producing it. 5. Pineapple scale (Diaspis bromtliir) on pineapple leaves. 6. Australian 

 Ladvbird beetles introduced into Hawaii. 



