288 INSECTS 



Coccinella sanguinea, Linn. 



Introduced from America, along with the preceding species, in, 

 or before, 1899. 



Rhizobins ventralis, Erichson. Blue Ladybird 



In 1900 the Agricultural Department introduced this insect from 

 Australia, and liberated small colonies at Auckland, Whangarei and 

 Hawke's Bay, for the purpose of combating the scale-insects which 

 attack the various species of Citrus (oranges, lemons, etc.). About 

 this same year an imported scale-insect {Eriococcus coriaceus) was 

 noticed in S. Canterbury attacking the various gum trees {Eucalyptus 

 sp.) which had been extensively planted there. The pest soon rose 

 to dangerous proportions and threatened the existence of the gum 

 trees, numbers of them dying. Quantities of Rhizobius were then 

 obtained from North Auckland, and other lots from New South 

 Wales and were widely distributed in the district. By the winter 

 of 1907 the plantations were well stocked all through the South 

 Island, and the following year the scale-insect was well under control. 

 The Rhizobius is now very common, especially in the South Island. 



Novius cardinalis, Mulsart {Vedalia cardinalis). 

 Australian Ladybird 



In 1894 leery a appeared at two places in the Wellington district, 

 and a number of ladybirds were reared and liberated on the properties 

 attacked. They appeared to have exterminated the blight in the 

 Wairarapa. 



In 1899 the Agricultural Department introduced a large number 

 of these ladybirds in order to destroy the cottony-cushion scale {Icerya 

 purchasi), and continued to rear^nd distribute them for several years. 



Dr Hilgendorf in 1917, says of the shrub-land in the Cass district: 

 "the yellow-spotted black ladybird, V. cardinalis, occurs rarely." 



Mr W. W. Smith (April, 1919) reports it as common in Taranaki. 



Hippodamia convergeus, Guer. 



In 1899 the Agricultural Department introduced this species from 

 America. I have no further record, and do not know whether it 

 increased or died out. 



Leis conformis, Boisd. The common Spotted Ladybird of Australia 

 In 1896 this species was introduced from New South Wales by 

 the Agricultural Department, as a destroyer of aphides. Two years 

 later it was reported from Auckland, where they were originally 

 liberated, that they wdre breeding. 



