HEMIPTERA 337 



cleared the trees of scale. By the winter of 1907 nearly all the affected 

 plantations were stocked with ladybirds. Mr T. W. Kirk said in 

 1908: 



In January of this year my assistant collected at Rolleston over 1300 on 

 ten gum trees in a little over three hours. . . .Three years ago the planta- 

 tions were swarming with the pest and to all appearances were doomed to 

 utter destruction. It is not too much to say that within another twelve 

 months there will scarcely be a single living scale to be found on the 

 southern plantations. 



Eriococcus araucariee, Maskell 



Mr Maskell described this species from specimens found on Nor- 

 folk Island pines {Araucaria excelsa) at Governor's Bay, near Lyttelton, 

 in 1878. It is found on the same tree and on the Moreton Bay pine 

 (A. Bidwillii) in the North of Auckland district. The species has been 

 found both in Spain and in America, and is almost certainly an 

 introduction. It is apparently held in check in New Zealand by the 

 introduced ladybirds. 



Dactylopius coccus, Costa {Coccus cacti). Cochineal Insect 



Apparently two attempts, both unsuccessful, have been made to 

 naturalise the cochineal insect in New Zealand. Mr Jas. Drummond 

 states that it was introduced by Mr Walter Brodie into Mangonui 

 about 1847. The Canterbury Society received a number of these 

 insects in a case of food-plants, from Sir Geo. Grey, in 1868. The 

 climate of New Zealand is too cold for this species. 



Icerya purchasi, Maskell. Cottony-cushion Scale 



This species was described by Mr Maskell in 1878 from specimens 

 sent to him by the Rev. Dr Purchas, who first found it, in Auckland, 

 where it had nearly destroyed a hedge of the Kangaroo Acacia 

 {A. armata). Writing in 1883, Mr Maskell said: 



Icerya purchasi has spread greatly in the last two years . It had just reached 

 Napier at the date of my last paper ; it has now established itself in that 

 district, not only in gardens but in the native forests. In Auckland it is 

 attacking all sorts of plants, from apple trees and roses to pines, cypresses 

 and gorse, and it is spreading over a large district. It has reached Nelson 

 . . .where it is devouring wattles, cypresses, gorse, and many other plants. 



Mr Maskell made every effort to rouse pubUc attention to the danger 

 arising from this dreaded pest. Fortunately the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment awoke to the importance of meeting the problem, and by the 

 introduction of the Australian ladybird {Vedalia cardinalis), this scale 

 is now kept in check and rapidly destroyed wherever it is met with. 



