Ko, 5.] Scale Lisecfs in, Madras. 29 



number of joints according- to the age of the individual; generally, 

 however, there are eight joints, but some have seven and otherd nine 

 joints ; the rest of the characters do not appreciably differ from 

 the adult female. Long 3-7 mm., wide 2|-6 mm. including fila- 

 ments. 



$ Sac elongate, composed o£ a rather close white waxy felting. 

 Long 2|-3 mm. Specimens much broken, therefore the measurements 

 may not be quite correct. 



The adult female is very similar to that of the second stage, but is 

 much, larger, has the marginal appendages much longer, and a large 

 projecting bag or sac attached to the abdominal segments in which the 

 eggs are laid. 



Parasites, 



The first consignment of coccids reached me on February 20th ; in the 

 packet containing the Iceryas were a number of what I took to be 

 chaleid parasites; thinking- that they might be of economic importance, 

 I forwarded specimens to Dr. C. V. Riley of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington, who very kindly replied as follows : — 

 '* The fact of the occurrence of Icerya agyptiacmn in India is very 

 interesting and important, and the parasites were examined with bated 

 breath. Most unfortunately, however, instead of being primary parasites, 

 they are secondary, and the whole series belongs to an apparently un- 

 described species of Tetrastichus, all of the species of which are hyper 

 parasites so far as I know.^'' (In lit. Ap. 20, 93.) 



Miss Tomlin has now returned to England, and I fear there is little 

 chance of obtaining the true parasite : unless some competent Entomolo- 

 gist visited the locality early in December, when it ought not to be a 

 diflicult matter to work the whole subject out, and to breed out the true 

 parasite. Judging from the number of sub-parasites, which undoubtedly 

 hatched during transit, the true parasite must be very numerous. 



Remedies. 



I am not in position to judge what is best as an application to the" 

 Icerya should it be found injurious, but no doubt the same application 

 recommended for Icerya purchasi, Mask,, would be effectual in destroying 

 this pest. (See Insect Life^ Vol. IL) 



The most successful remedy adopted in America against the Icerya 

 purchasi has been the introduction of an Australian " Lady-bird " beetle 

 {Vedalia cardinulis), where it has cleared thousands of orange trees of 

 the destructive coccids. This Vedalia has also been imported into 

 Alexandria by Dr. Riley for the destruction of the Egyptian Icerya, 

 where they have done excellent work. Admiral Blomfield, who had 



