FUNGOUS AND INSECT FRIENDS. 



551 



Spraying and fumigating were attempted with in- 

 different success, when the happy suggestion was made 

 by Mr. Alexander Craw, to send some one to Australia, 

 to find and introduce the natural enemies of the pest. 

 This was accomplished through the co-operation of the 

 United States Department of 

 Agriculture and Mr. Frank Mc- 

 Coppin, of San Francisco, United 

 States Commissioner to the Mel- 

 bourne (Australia) Exposition. 

 Mr. Albert Koebele was selected 

 to do the work. The task was 

 successfully accomplished. He 

 found the natural enemy, Novius 

 cardinalis. It was sent to Cali- 

 fornia, thrived in its new home 

 and speedily destroyed the dread- 

 ed Icherya purchasi. 

 When the cottony cushion scale 

 became established in Florida, 

 Prof. H. A. Gossard, of the 

 Florida Experiment Station, was 

 instrumental in introducing the 

 ladybug from California, and the 

 ravages of the insect were again 

 checked. 



Following this signal triumph, 

 the attention of entomologists 

 has been directed to this means 

 of insect control. The mealybug 

 has been checked in California 

 by a ladybug, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, which preys 

 upon it. Another, RhizoMus ventralis has proved effective 

 as an enemy of the Black scale, Lecanium. 



Fig. 123. Ladybug pupae on orange 

 twig. One mature insect may be 

 seen near the bottom. 



