Eiq-EMIES OF OTHER SCALE-INSECTS. 63 



and very interesting species of Microweisea, recently described, also 

 attacks the San Jose scale, and is referred to below. 



Rliizohius lophanthde was originally described from specimens found 

 preying- upon the San Jose scale at San Diego, Cal., but belongs to a 

 lot which was introduced by Mr. Koebele on his first Australian trip 

 (1888-89) and subsequently lost sight of, and was described by Doctor 

 Blaisdell under the supposition that it was a new California species. 



Of our native predaceous insects attacking the San Jose scale, the 

 most useful and interesting is the little coccinellid Microweised misella 

 (fig. 10), which in both the larva and beetle state feeds upon this 

 scale. It has a very wide range, occurring thruout the East and also 





Ji c ^ 



Fig. 10.— Microweisea {Fentilia) misella: a, beetle; b, larya; c, pupa; d, blossom end of pear, showing 

 scales with larvae of Microweisea feeding on them, and pupee of Microweisea attached within the 

 calyx. All greatly enlarged (from Howard and Marlatt). 



in California, and began to attack the scale in numbers in the East in 

 the first infested orchards discovered. This beetle was figured and 

 its habits briefly indicated in Bulletin 3. The parent beetles prefer 

 the full-grown female scales, and may frequently be observed stand- 

 ing astride the scale, almost on end, pushing their heads under the 

 margin of the protecting scale to get at the soft, yellow insect 

 beneath. The larvae of these beetles seem to feed more abundantly on 

 the young scales. Their mode of attacking the older scales was not 

 observed. The egg of this particularly useful coccinellid has not been 

 found, but a favorite place for pupation was discovered within the 

 calyx of the pears. This cavity is often literally filled with a mixture 

 8449— No. 62—06 5 



