17 



since imported into the islands by Koebele. Natuarally an Aphis- 

 eater, it is taking quite kindlv to feeding on the young leaf-hopper. 

 The beetle itself probably does not do much execution, but the 

 larva is very efficient on the young, especially at the moment when 

 tiiey emerge from the eggs, and in their younger stages, and also 

 is able sometimes to obtain the eggs themselves. 



In some fields of young cane, where the leaf-hoppers were all 

 adult, or only very few young arc to be found, this lady-bird was 

 either absent or in very small numbers. The reason is olndously 

 because they are not greatly attracted until the young leaf-hop- 

 pers appear, since these are the chief food of the lady-bird's larva. 



In Hamakua, some fields of young cane, where young leaf- 

 hoppers were already very numerous, were estimated on June 21st 

 to have three adult lady-birds to each stool on the average, and 

 very often several larvae of the same in addition, as well as nu- 

 merous eggs. 



(aa) Bracouid Parasite of Coccinclla Repanda. 



Most unfortunately an enemy of this lady-bird is already in the 

 jield and generally distributed, though not yet very numerous. It 

 is, so far as is known to me, the onl}; lady-bird parasite at present 

 found in these islands and probably came from America at the 

 same time that the one foreign lady-bird, that was found here prior 

 to Koebele's importations, was brought (accidentally) to this 

 country. This parasite is the Cciillsfcs auiericana of Riley. 



This parasite was known to me in 1892 as attacking Ncda ab- 

 uoiui)ialis, some time before the Coccinclla above mentioned was 

 introduced, but now it seems chietlv. if not entirely, to attack the 

 latter. It was found generally distributed over windward Ha- 

 waii and more numerous in proportion to the number of its host 

 in parts of Hilo than in Hamakua. Several times the female of 

 the parasite was seen grappling with and curled around the ma- 

 ture lady-bird in which it was laying an egg, and the dead and 

 dying beetles could be found in some numbers any day in many 



