4 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 37S 



and demonstrated. Cryptolaemus received international attention and accord- 

 ing to Clausen (3) they have been distributed in 35 different countries and 

 in 1936 were known to be established in IS of them. 



The commercial use of Cryptolaemus for the control of mealybugs on plants 

 in the greenhouse is not known to have been reported in literature. Armitage 

 stated in correspondence (March 7, 1933) that liberations of this predator in 

 greenhouses in California "have proven of little value," apparently owing to 

 an unfavorable effect of high humidity on the development of the insect and 

 also to the fact that even though the Cryptolaemus produce a high degree of 

 control they seldom eradicate tlie mealybugs. 



HOST INSECTS 



In Massachusetts greenhouses, Cryptolaemus inoittroudcri has fed upon, 

 and has been reared successfully on, the citrus mealybug (Psetidococcus citri 

 Risso), the long tailed mealybug (P. lo)igispinus Targ.), and the Mexican 

 mealybug (Phenococcus gossypii Towns, and Ckll.). 



The native host insect in Australia is the golden mealybug (Psetidococcus 

 aurilajiatus Mask.) Smith and Armitage (16) state that it "feeds on all the 

 important citrus feeding mealybugs," and in addition to those mentioned 

 above this would include the Citrophilus mealybug {Psetidococcus gahani 

 Green.), the Baker mealybug (P. maritimns Ehrh.), and the Japanese mealy- 

 bug {P. kraulmiae Kuwana). 



Van Dine (19) reports that C. }iwiitrouzieyi feeds on the pink mealybug 

 of sugar cane (P. sacchari Ckll.). 



Wolcott (2i) lists the gray mealybug cf sugarcane {P. boniiisis Kuwana= 

 P. calceolariae Mask.) and states that these mealybugs were not controlled in 

 the field, where they were protected by the leaf sheaths of the sugarcane. 



Wolcott (22, p. 408) reports feeding on the sugarcane leaf scale (Pulvi- 

 naria iceryi Guerin) in Puerto Rico and also states (22)) that a similar record 

 was made by Dozier. Marlatt (8) records feeding on the green shield scale 

 (Pulvinaria psidii Mask.) on coffee in Hawaii, and Wolcott (22, p. 408) 

 records this insect 'on orange and other plants as a host of Cryptolaemus in 

 the West Indies. He also states (23) that Danforth reported it attacking 

 P. psidii found on the milk bush (Ranzvolfia }iitida) in Puerto Rico. 



C. montroudcri is recorded as feeding on the pineapple mealybug (Pseti- 

 dococcus brez'ipes Ckll.) in the Philippine Islands (12). and it is an impor- 

 tant natural enemy of the spotted mealybug (Fcrrisiana virgata Ckll.) in 

 Saipan Island (10) and in Hawaii (21). Williams (21, p. 184) also reports 

 from Hawaii that this predatory beetle prefers to feed on mealybugs living 

 on the exposed parts of plants including Tylococcus giffardi Ehrh. on "hala" 

 (Pandauus). Other specific hosts in the West Indies are the cocoanut mealy- 

 bug { I'sctidncocciis nipac Mask.) especially on jiapaya, mango, and avocado 

 (22, p. 514), and the cottony cushion scale (Iccrya purchasi Mask.) on casu- 

 arina or "pine" trees (22. i). 4()()-4()r). 



DESCRIPTION 



Egg 



The eggs are 1.5 mm. long and aljout one-half as wide, elongate-oval in 

 shape and lemon yellow to dull orange in color. They are laid singly 



