134 F. C. WILLCOCKS — A MEALY BJJCi, 



The predaceous enemies are represented by members of the orders Diptera, 

 Neuroptera and Coleoptera. 



The larvae o£ a Cecidomyiid fly are not uncommon in and amongst the 

 ovisacs of I), perniciosus. It is thought that they may feed on the ova. The 

 larvae are quite conspicuous, being coloured a bright orange-red, paling to 

 orange towards the head. There is a dusky dorsal area. The ventral surface 

 of the segments is provided with a transverse row of prominent fleshy 

 tubercles. 



The larva of a Neuropterous insect, Hemerohius sp., was also found preying 

 upon the young stages of the Dactylopius. The adult is a pale sepia-brown 

 insect. 



The order Coleoptera is represented b}' three members of the family 

 CocciNELLiD^E or lady-bird beetles. One species, Exoclwmus iiigromacalatas^ 

 Goeze, is a handsome insect with shiny black elytra and an orange or 

 orange-red head and thorax, the legs and venter being of the same colour. 

 Unfortunately it does not appear to be very abundant and cannot therefore be 

 considered of much importance as a natural enemy of the pest. The adults 

 and larvae of this species also feed on Aphidid^. 



The most common Coccinellid of the three is a species of Seymmis. This 

 beetle is small in size, measuring about 2 mm. in length and 1 mm. across the 

 wing-covers. The head and thorax are of a reddish brown hue, covered with 

 numerous short, fine, silvery hairs. The elytra are blackish to dark brown, 

 paler at the margins, and conspicuously marked with dull ivory-yellow. 

 There are numerous silvery hairs on the elytra. The legs are ferrnginous. 

 Both adults and larvae feed on the immature stages of D. perniciosus, as 

 well as on other scale insects and APHiDiDiE. The larvae are yellow in colour 

 and are completely covered dorsally and laterally with prominent, pointed, 

 white, waxy processes, which give them a close resemblance to mealy bugs. 



The third species is a small beetle measuring about 3 mm. in length and 

 2 mm. across the elytra. The head is black ; the thorax black with pale 

 margins. The elytra are of pale yellowish ivory colour with a conspicuous 

 black trident-shaped marking, of which half is on each elytron. The larvae 

 have smooth and somewhat mealy skins. The pupa is bright ochreous brown 

 densely covered with short, bristle-like hairs. This species has been found 

 on one occasion only, feeding on a colony of the Dactylopius ; it appears to 

 be rare. 



Methods of Control, 



The control measures employed in 1909 by those in charge of the trees 

 were as follows. Infested trees were headed right back to the main branches 

 as shown above (fig. 9). The tree was then thoroughly scraped and brushed 

 with a hard brush, and afterwards painted with a mixture of paraffin oil, 



