COISTTEOL OF THE CITKOPHILUS MEALYBUG. 



19 



Fig. 



11. — Adult of Scymnui 

 Greatly enlarged. 



sordidus. 



this insect was on such an effective commercial basis that timely 

 future attention would effectively hold it in check. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



Though the ant control, banding, and trunk spraying have given 

 excellent control of the citrophilus mealybug, the importance of its 

 natural enemies in conjunction 

 with this artificial means of con- 

 trol needs emphasis. The nat- 

 ural enemies are very effective 

 against light infestations, if the 

 ants are not present, and even in 

 heavier infestations are impor- 

 tant in assisting to destroy the 

 insects on the foliage and trunks 

 following spray treatment. The 

 most effective natural enemies 

 present in the groves are all 

 predators and appear to rank 

 in order of importance as fol- 

 lows: Chrysopa spp. (fig. 9), 

 Leucopis hella Loew (fig. 10), 

 and Scymnus sordidus Horn 

 (fig. 11). They breed freely in the cottony mass of ovipositing fe- 

 males on the trunks, although by no means noticeably reducing the 



mealybug on heavily infested trees. It is, 

 however, following the migration of the 

 mealybug larvae to the tender fruit and 

 foliage that the effectiveness of these nat- 

 ural predators is most felt. Here they 

 search out and destroy the young mealy- 

 bugs, and in the case of light infestations 

 frequently prevent the development in- 

 creasing to severe proportions. Chrysopa 

 and Leucopis are usually most numerous 

 during the late spring and summer, while 

 Scymnus is most effective during the early 

 fall. 



The natural predators of primary im- 

 portance in controlling the common mealy- 

 bug, namely, Byinptierobms spp. and 

 Hyperaspis lateralis Muls., are of very 

 secondary value against the citrophilus 

 mealybug. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. (figs. 12, 13), however, 

 is very effective against either species. This predator was first tried 

 against the citrophilus species by the writers at Alhambra during 



Fig. 12. — Larva of Cryptolae- 

 mus montrouzieri. Much en- 

 larged. 



