18 BULLETIN 1117, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



undertake the production of quantities of infected mealybugs for 

 the use of the growers. 



If, however, a grove has been sprayed for the control of citrus 

 diseases, with Bordeaux mixture or other active fungicide which 

 kills entomogenous as well as other fungi, the owner must be pre- 

 pared for a heavy infestation of mealybugs, provided, of course, 

 that these insects are present in the grove at the time the Bordeaux 

 is applied. In such instances it would do no good to introduce the 

 fungus and the application of artificial remedial measures might be 

 advisable. 



In California the Argentine and other ants are said^^ to be im- 

 portant factors in checking the work of the natural enemies, which 

 in that State, so far as is known, are exclusively insect, or at least 

 not fungus. It is said that they have been observed to carry living 

 mealybugs — 



=!= * * to destroy and carry off the larvse and eggs of natural enemies, to 

 interfere witli the free movement about the tree of certain beneficial insects, 

 and by their constant attendance upon the mealybugs to prevent normal egg 

 laying and feeding of adult parasites and predatory insects. 



Ants have been frequently observed in Florida attending mealy- 

 bug colonies, but no attempt, has been made either to determine the 

 different species involved or their relation to mealybugs, although 

 they were frequently observed carrying these insects. It is difficult, 

 however, to see how they can interfere in any way with the fungous 

 parasite herein considered, unless they possess psychic powers of 

 such a nature as to enable them to pick out for destruction the dis- 

 eased but not dead specimens, for in carrying about dead sporulat- 

 ing specimens, or even in traveling about among such individuals, 

 they would rather assist in spreading the fungus from insect to 

 insect. 



'1 Woglum, R. S., and Neuls, J. D. Op. cit., p. 11. 



