XCVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Jose scale in this district could not have come from any foreign coun- 

 try, as there have been no importations and the fruits are all of native 

 sorts. The scale occurs very scatteringly, although generally, just as 

 it should if native, and is in a state of balance with its native natural 

 enemies. It has a natural enemy, everywhere present and efficient, 

 in a ladybird beetle known as Cliilocorus similis. From this evidence 

 Mr. Marlatt concludes without doubt that the San Jose scale is a native 

 of North China. He has collected many specimens of this efficient 

 natural enemy and has forwarded them to Washington. Steps will 

 be taken to establish and acclimatize this important species, and it is 

 hoped that it will prove as efficient against the San Jose scale in this 

 country as it has in its native home. It is not beyond the bounds of 

 probability that this importation will prove to be one of extreme value 

 to the fruit growers of the United States. 



BLACK SCALE, PLANT LICE, AND GRASSHOPPERS. 



Possibly the next most important of these beneficial insects which 

 have been introduced is a caterpillar enemy of the black scale, which 

 has been brought over in healthy living condition from Italy by the 

 assistance of Prof. Antonio Berlese, of the Royal School of Agricul- 

 tural Entomology at Portici. The black scale is a serious enemy to 

 olive culture in California. It occurs not only upon the olive but also 

 less abundantly upon citrus trees, upon a shade tree known as the pep- 

 per tree, and other plants. It is the greatest drawback to olive cul- 

 ture in this country. The caterpillar in question (Erastria scitula) 

 is found in Mediterranean regions, and is probably one of the princi- 

 pal causes of the comparative freedom of olive trees from black scale 

 in that part of the world. The Division of Entomology has for eight 

 years been attempting to bring this insect to the United States in liv- 

 ing condition, and success for the first time was reached in November, 

 1901. This beneficial insect will be established in California with the 

 assistance of the State board of horticulture of that State. It should 

 be stated that the black scale is apparently a native of the general 

 region from which this beneficial insect has been sent. 



Another importation which may also prove to be an important one 

 is a ladybird beetle, known as Coccinella septem/punctata, which has 

 been brought over from Hungary with the assistance of Prof. Charles 

 Sajo. This insect, native to Europe, feeds upon several destructive 

 plant lice which have been accidentally imported into this countiy 

 from Europe, and upon the larvse of the destructive asparagus beetles. 



A fungous disease of grasshoppers has been imported from South 

 Africa and has been experimentally used in different places in the 

 United States through the summers of 1900-1901. In some localities 

 it appears to have taken hold successfully, but it is too early as yet to 

 predict any general success. 



