22 CALIFORNIA STATE HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. 



were, although the females several times were observed to attempt oviposition, in 

 ever.v case, however, being deterred from so doing by the jerking of the larva, now in 

 a semi-pupal state. During one of these visits the male was- driven away, but soon 

 returned. About 6 P. M., the last observation of the day, the transformation of the 

 larva, while not complete, had so far advanced as to prevent the radical movements 

 which had characterized its struggles during the forenoon, and the female was busily 

 engaged in her work of oviposition, the male still present as a spectator (?i. On 

 the morning of the 10th, the chrysalis, now fully developed, was removed and placed 

 in a glass jar, awaiting further developments. On the morning of the 27th, seventeen 

 days after, the adult Ptcromalus were observed issuing from the chrysalis in great 

 numbers. After all had emerged, they were counted and found to number us males 

 and 4 females. The same parasite had been reared from a similar chrysalis on 

 August 13th, but the individuals were not counted. 



Corny s fusea, Howard. (Plate II, Figs. 3, 3a.) This is one of the 

 most effective of the scale parasites in our State. Its efforts are princi- 

 pally directed to keeping down the brown apricot scale (Eulecanium 

 [Lecanium] armeniaciUH, Craw) , and wherever it has become thoroughly 

 established it has accomplished this object in very good style. The 

 brown apricot scale has been one of the most serious scale pests of the 

 State, frequently covering the twigs of apricot, plum, and prune trees 

 with an almost solid incrustation, destroying the vitality of the trees, 

 ruining the fruit, and doing incalculable damage. By means of this 

 little internal parasite, however, we are enabled to keep the pest well 

 under control, and whenever there is an outbreak of the scale, colonies 

 of the parasite are sent and soon become established. The parasites are 

 small, and their capture and shipment require great care. The method 

 in which this is done is by noting an orchard in which the insects are 

 well established the preceding season. From this orchard large quan- 

 tities of infested twigs are secured about the middle of May, or before 

 the parasites begin to emerge from the scale. These are carefully 

 trimmed of all leaves to prevent mildewing, and then placed in square, 

 wooden receptacles or boxes, as shown in the illustration (Plate VIII). 

 These boxes are bored with a number of half -inch holes in the upper 

 half and all light elsewhere excluded. Into these holes small vials are 

 fitted, with the mouths inward. The insects, as they emerge from the 

 scales, seek the light and enter the vials placed to receive them, and 

 when there are enough in any one to form a colony of sufficient size, 

 usually from twenty-five insects up, the vial is removed, stopped with 

 a little cotton wool to prevent their escape and yet admit air, another 

 vial is set, and the process is repeated. The vials are then carefully 

 packed in stiff paper tubes (see Plate IX) and mailed to all sections 

 where there have been any reports of outbreaks of the scale. In this 

 manner, beneficial insects are distributed by tens of thousands all over 

 the State and nature is aided in her efforts to keep our insect enemies 

 within proper limits. 



Eneyrtus flavus, Howard. (Plate II, Figs. 1, la.) This is one of 

 several internal parasites of the soft brown scale (Coccus [Lecanium] 



