11 



History and Present Status of Orthezia insignis in Hawaii. 



BY JACOB KOTINSKY. 



Orthezia msignis was first discovered at Wailukii, Maui, in 

 1899 by Mr. G. P. Wilder of Honolulu aud Brother Frank 

 of the Catholic Mission and was by the former brought to the 

 government's attention in November of that year. Mr. Koebele 

 heard of this unpleasant discovery while in Sydney, INew South 

 "Wales, and forthwith issued instructions to have the pest eradi- 

 cated. It would seem, however, that word had gone forth in the 

 meantime proclaiming the bug as the true savior of the cattle 

 industry from the lantana pest, and cattlemen everywhere 

 eagerly, surreptitiously distributed it over their lantana infested 

 fields.' The blackened appearance of the leaves served to ad- 

 vertise the newly discovered remedy and was taken to indicate 

 the doom of the pernicious plant. Despite repeated warnings 

 by Mr. Koebele and other local entomologists the insect was 

 distributed over all the important islands of the group. 



APPEAEANCE ON OAHIJ. 



In November, 1904, while crossing the Nuuanu Pali Mr. 

 G-iftard drew the attention of Mr. Craw and the writer, who 

 accompanied him, to what was probably the first appearance 

 of the scale on this island — two patches of blackened lantana 

 about one-third the way down the other side of the Pali. By 

 way of the Pali and doubtless also on birds' feet it has crossed 

 the ridge since and spread to and overrun all of the Kona dis- 

 trict of this island. In this area it has touched an important 

 residential portion of Honolulu, viz. : Manoa, Makiki and Pa- 

 waa districts. 



In course of its march seaward it was found on a large 

 variety of plants, and actually killing several ornamental plants, 

 like Coleus, Alternanthera, Gardenia, Meyenia and others. It 

 was reported on citrns and banana trees but upon investigation 

 the writer found that it did no more damage to these trees than 

 to the chicken coop which it had also overrun in the same 

 yard — it was merely a case of overflow from lantana on the ad- 

 joining lot. 



The question confronting us at present is whether the time 

 is ripe for an attempt to check it. Needless to say that viewed 



Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc, II, No. 1, Oct., 1908. 



