9 



capacity of this insect. To preserve the plants from destruction, 

 its control must be accomplished by artificial means, such as the use 

 of sprays. 



Among the more conunon precUiceous insects which are observed 

 feeding on the scale is the so-called pitiful ladybird {Microweisea 

 [Pentilid] misella Lee), illustrated in figure 5. This ver}' small, 

 convex, black beetle may generally be found by any observant })er- 

 son on scale-infested trees. 



Another si)ecies that feeds very commonly on this and other scale 

 insects is the twice-stabbed ladybird (ChUocorus hlvidnerus Muls.). 

 This is a very near relative and almost identical in appearance to 



-^ . '^~- 





Fig. 5. — The pitiful ladybird ( Microweisea [Pentilia] misella): a. Beetle; 6, larva; c, pupa; d, blossom end 

 of pear, showing scales with larvae of Microweisea feeding on them, and pupae of Microweisea attached 

 within the calyx. All greatly enlarged. (From Howard and Marlatt.) 



the Asiatic ladybird {Chilocorus similis Rossi) (see fig. 6), which was 

 introduced into this countiy from China through the activities of 

 Mr. C. L. Marlatt, of the Bureau of Entomology, in the hope that 

 its introduction would result in the control of this insect. The 

 Asiatic ladybird, however, unfortunately proved to be subject to 

 certain native ])arasites, while the necessity of spraying for the scale 

 destroyed its food supply to such an extent that it was unable to 

 maintain its existence. 



Included among the parasitic Hymenoptera are certain natural 

 enemies of an entirely different kind — very minute, four-winged 

 flies (see fig. 7), which deposit their eggs upon or in the scales, 



[Clr. 1124] 



