805 A, E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 393 
destructive insect in Bermuda. It is easily recognized, when adult, 
by the peculiar form and fluting of its scale or egg-case, which is 
pale yellow and filled with a white cottony secretion. The body of 
the insect, which is nearly concealed by the egg-sac, is orange-red, 
its back being partly covered with a whitish powder ; antenne and 
legs black; eggs pale red, 200 to 400 in each egg-sac. Immature 
females are covered with tufts or filaments of a cottony secretion. 
It attacks both the leaves and branches, increasing very rapidly, 
and often kills the trees. This insect was introduced into California* 
about 1868, and into New Zealand, South Africa, and Florida soon 
after. Before that time it had attracted little attention. In South 
Africa it quickly destroyed great numbers of orange trees, even 
those of the largest size, and spread to a great variety of other trees 
and shrubs. It was formerly one of the most destructive species in 
California. It is not known when it first arrived in Bermuda, but 
probably not till after 1876. The Australian Lady-bug ( Vedalia 
cardinalis, see fig. 183a@) was imported by experts of the 
U. States Agricultural Department into California to 
destroy this scale, and has proved very beneficial there, 
the damage from this species being very little at pres- 
ent. The Vedalia has also been successfully introduced 
into India, Egypt, Portugal, New Zealand, Hawaiian 
Islands, and other countries for the same purpose. It should be 
introduced into Bermuda, from the United States, which could 
easily be done.t 
* Tt is said to have been brought to California from Australia, but some sup- 
pose that it was originally native of the Pacific Islands. That its natural 
enemies (like the Vedalia) live in Australia is evidence that it was native there, 
but not conclusive. 
+ Several other species of Australian Coccinellids were also successfully intro- 
duced into California in 1892 by the entomologists of the U. States Department 
of Agriculture. Among the most important of these is Rhizobius ventralis Er., 
which feeds voraciously on Lecaniwm ole and other species of Lecanium and 
Eriococcus. It survives the winter well and increases rapidly, so that it is of 
great value for destroying these scales. 
Rhizobius debilis and R. satellus, though successfully introduced, did not 
increase so rapidly as the former. AR. debilis feeds on the San José Scale and 
related species, as well as on Lecanium. Orcus Australasice and O. chalybeus 
were both successfully introduced and increased rapidly in some localities. The 
former feeds on the San José Seale and related species; the latter on Lecaniwm 
olew, etc. Very likely some of these could easily be introduced into Bermuda. 
