33 



those already in position . The various tablets placed successively remain thus, form- 

 ing within the jar a kind of series of shelves, or an Mag ere on whose shelves the suc- 

 cessive generations of Vedalias go on reproducing, feeding, and distributing them- 

 selves. 



The leery as left from the earlier feedings are not removed from the jars, in order 

 not to lose the eggs that the Vedalias place under the oviferous sacs of the former, 

 nor the small larvae that have already hatched there, or which are found in search 

 of leery a eggs among the sacs mentioned above. 



Two or three tablets with fresh leery as may be inserted each time according to 

 the number of Vedalias which exist in each jar and the larger or smaller number of 

 leery a larva? that one sees on the walls of the jar on the side toward the light. 



Pasteboard tablets in this form may be made up until the jar is filled to the top. 

 Having reached this point and four to eight days having passed — that is, when it 

 has become necessary to furnish new food — the tablets are distributed in new jars, 

 placing one or two in each one and leaving one or two in the first jar to continue 

 and develop the broods; or the tablets stocked with larval and winged Vedalias are 

 utilized to establish colonies of the precious coccinellids in orchards, groves, and 

 gardens invaded by Icerya. 



In the first case the same system is followed with each new jar until rt is full of 

 tablets. 



In the second case the jar with the material is taken where the colonies of Veda- 

 lias are to be established, and at each point the gauze which covers the mouth of the 

 jar is loosened. One or more of the tablets is removed with their Iceryas and Veda- 

 lias. Each one is placed in a small box made of wood, of pasteboard, or of leaves 

 of appropriate size (collar boxes serve every purpose), and these boxes are bound or 

 nailed in an upright position to the trees or plants where it is desired to start the 

 colony of Vedalias. 



As the larval and also the winged Vedalias are very delicate and the lightest pres- 

 sure crushes them, we should therefore always avoid touching them, in order to 

 preserve the largest number possible in the broods. It is for this reason that we 

 have contrived the simple process which we have described and which with good 

 results is being followed in the chemical-agricultural station of Lisbon, both in the 

 breeding and distribution of Vedalias. 



In order to faA-or the breeding of Vedalias his excellency, counsellor Elvino de 

 Brito, director-general of agriculture, ordered the construction at the chemical-agri- 

 cultural station of a tent of wire-cloth over a wooden frame. This tent covers an 

 orange tree infested with Icerya jnirchasi, and can be easily taken down and put up 

 when necessary to change its place, and is operated in manner similar to the one 

 which was established for the same purpose in the United States of America under 

 the name of U. S. Propagating Station for Parasites of Scale Insects. 



Within the tent is found, beside the orange tree infested with Icerya, a shelf on 

 which are placed tablets, according to our system, with Iceryas, not only to furnish 

 eggs and larva? for the sustenance of the Vedalias because in a short time the Icer- 

 yas of the orange tree would be insufficient, but also for the purpose of utilizing 

 these tablets, after stocking with coccinellids, to continue their colonization in 

 localities or estates invaded by scales. 



To stock this tent or station we presented to them early in May several large jars 

 where we had made the first breedings, which contained about a thousand Vedalias 

 in various stages. At the same time we furnished to the chemical-agricultural sta- 

 tion, to serve in the distribution of Vedalia colonies, two large jars containing 12 

 tablets stocked with some thousands of the larvae and winged forms of the voracious 

 coccinellid. 



With the breedings obtained in the chemical-agricultural station of Lisbon (Belem) 

 and those that we had furnished to them, the station was advised to establish thirty- 

 eight centers or colonies of Vedalias, fitted out so as to be able to continue, each time 



8193—^0. 18 3 



