80 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. Ill, 



the management of the Vedalias, told me that it was wonderful to see 

 how soon these small beetles cleared off the leeryas, but 1 believe they 

 are but a small colony at presents It is hoped, however, as they increase 

 the Jceryas will diminish. 



The following are some interesting- letters addressed to Mr. Coquillett 

 at Los Angeles upon the subject of Vedalia beetles. They are quoted 

 from Insect Life, Vol. II, p. 190 :— 



•' * * * The Vedalias that you brought to my -pLskce ahout the 20fch of last 

 March, and -which we colonized on four large orange trees that were covered with 

 Fluted Scale, have spread in all directions, although to begin with they followed the 

 direction of the wind most readily. From those four trees they have multiplied so 

 rapidly that in my orchard of 3,000 trees it is seldom that we can now find a Fluted 

 Scale ; I find a few of them on some weeds in spots, but I can also find the beetles 

 there. The trees have put on a new growth and look altogether different ; even the 

 black fungus on the old leaves has loosened its hold and begins to fall to the 

 o-rouud. Besides having cleaned my orchard, they spread also to the orchard of my 

 cousin and to my father's orchard ; the latter was also re-enforced by colonies from 

 Mr. J. W, Wolfskin and from Colonel J. E. Dobbins. As my father has some 10,000 

 trees, and mostly all were more or less infested, the Vedalias had a grand feast ahead 

 of them, and they have done their work most wonderfully. What I have said of my 

 orchard applies to my father's also, and really to all our neighbours. When the- 

 Vedalias first began to multiply we took colonies of fifty or more in the pupa state 

 and placed them in different portions of the orchard, and even had we not done so the 

 Vedalia unaided would itself have reached there in almost the same time. 



*' On the Chapman place the Fefl?a/^as have cleaned the Fluted Scales off of the 

 150 acres of land. They have taken more than an oppressive burden off of the orange 

 grower's hands, and I for one very much thank the Division of Entomology for th© 

 Vedalia cardinalis, the insect that has worked a miracle. — [ A. Scott Chapman, San 

 Gabriel, Cal., October 18, 1889.] 



« * * * The Vedalia had practically freed my orchard of Iceryas on the 

 31st of July. It was on that date that I was obliged to post a notice at the entrance 

 to my place, saying that I had no more Vedalias for distribution. The scale and 

 lady-bird had fought out the battle, and while the carcasses of the vanquished were 

 everywhere present to tell of the slaughter, the victors had disappeared almost entirely 

 from the field. I have 35 acres in orchard, some 3,200 trees in all. I never 

 colonized any Vedalias in my grove, excepting the two consignments which you 

 brought to me yourself, one box on February 22nd and two boxes March 20. I noticed 

 the first increase from the lot No. 1 on the 15th April, and from lot No. 2 on the 

 24th of the same month. On the 25th of April I found larvae upon several adjacent 

 trees. Thet^e facts are from memoranda made at the time. I have a list of the names 

 of fruit growers, 226 in number, to whom I personally distributed over 120,000 

 Vedalias in colonies of various sizes between May 31st and July 31st. * * •" 

 [ J. E. Dobbins, San Gabriel, Cal, October 22, 1889.] 



" I am glad to report that the lady-birds you sent me are doing good work and 

 increasing in this neighbourhood, and as soon as all are supplied, I will establish 

 some on the mountain where the brush is full of them, also a small patch near the 

 Ocean, and hope the Cottony Cushion Scale will soon be a scarce article in this sec- 

 tion. — [Joseph Sexton, Goleta, Cal., August 12, 1889.]" 



