122 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



with wood -ashes and water in the proportion of 

 one quart of ashes to three gallons of water. If 

 found generally on the tree in positions not easily 

 reached by the hand, syringe as before with " white 

 lye" lye prepared by boiling wood-ashes. 



A most formidable enemy to both these insects- 

 named has appeared within the last two years in 

 the grove of the writer. It is a lady-bug with a sin- 

 gle red spot on each wing case. In both the pupa 

 and perfect state it is ever busy devouring these in- 

 sects. Of course they are allowed full freedom of 

 the grove, and are increasing very rapidly. 



Another enemy, noticed for the first time and 

 during the present year in the grove of the writer, 

 of the long scale insect, has appeared in the form 

 of a small hang or basket worm, ' ' named by Mr. 

 Packard (as the writer has been informed through 

 the entomological department of the Agricultural 

 Department), Platcecitus Gloverii," but later 

 named Psyche Confederata. The female remains 

 in her case and devours insects inclosed under her 

 web. The male is a small dark- colored moth. 

 These insects are not a very formidable enemy to 

 the scale, as the female confines herself closely in 

 her operations under her web. But some small 

 trees have been entirely rid of insects by their help. 

 But if * ' these insects, ' ' as the entomologist of the 

 Agricultural Department writes, " in their habits 

 resemble the basket or drop worm of the North," 

 they might prove an enemy to the orange tree as 



