364 



its breediug season. At the date of observ^atiou, January 28, these 

 Scymui were nearly all pairing, and quite a large number of very 

 young larvae were afterwards observed in a box of twigs of Eucalyptus, 

 infested by the scale, and which were collected at the time of obser- 

 vation. 



So far as chronic depredators on farm crops are concerned, about the 

 same state of affairs seems to exist in Australia as in the United States. 

 White Grubs get in their work after the most approved American plan. 

 A species of Migratory Locust originates in the interior and overruns 

 considerable areas of farming country. A species of Caterpillar, with 

 habits strangely like those of our Army Worm, marches through tields 

 of grain, leaving destruction in its wake. I was informed that this pest 

 was more liable to occur immediately following a wet winter, late sown 

 oats being especially subject to attack. The Grain Moth, Gelechia 

 cerealella, and the Rice Weevil, Calandra oryzcc, cause serious damage 

 to stored grain. 



Early in February it was stated that in the vicinity of Caisus, 

 Queensland, "millions of caterpillars were clearing all vegetation be- 

 fore them." 



TWO NEW SPECIES OF SCYMNUS. 



By Dr. David Sharp, Wilmington, England. 



[Note. — The Anstraliau aud New Zealand Cocciuellids which were imported by 

 Mr. Koebele to Califoruia in the hope that they will become acclimatized aud feed 

 upon the Fluted Scale were sent to Dr. Sharp for determination. As he tiuds among 

 them an interesting new species, and as this is perha[is the most promiueut of t he 

 species brought over, he has sent us a detailed descriptiou, Avhich we publish below, 

 together with oue of a closely allied species which he had formex'ly received from New 

 Zealand. — Eds.] 



Scyninus restitutor u. sp. 



Major, ovalis, niger, cinereo-puhescens, prothoracis margine antcriore utrinque antennis 

 que pallidetestaceis,illis apiceni reruns fitucesccntibus subtus ahdomine pectoreque sorcUde 

 teataceis. Long. 4^""". 



The upper surface is closely and rather finely punctured, the pubescence snberect, 

 a little curled; the thorax is rather narrow, so that the outline is discontinuous to a 

 greater degree than is usual in the genus. The under surface is of a sordid yellow or 

 pale red color, more or less infuscate at the sides and in frout; the tarsi are fuscous 

 red, and the claws are all simple, neither toothed nor lobed. The prosternal lines 

 are rather long, and not at all curved in front; moderately distant at the front mar- 

 gin they continue in slightly divergent directions to the hind margin. The epi- 

 pleune are unusually broad. Claws of the hind feet simple, those of the middle .and 

 front feet feebly lobed at the base. 



Found in Australia. 



This species does not resemble any other Scyranus known to me at all 

 closely, except an undescribed species from New Zealand, which, owing 

 to this circumstauce, it may be well to characterize. 



