B3 



summer of this year that this orchard has been under constant and 

 careful observation but one or two beetles of our native species have 

 appeared, and but two of it- larvae have been seen on the trees. Yet 

 within a -tour'- throw of this orchard is a tree on the grounds of the 

 Department infested with A. ancylus, and on this tree, infested with 

 a native scale insect, the Chilocorus bi/wdnerus has established itself in 

 considerable number-, probably several hundred larva- being present 

 on the tree. The history of this ladybird in the East, and as further 

 illustrated by the instance just mentioned, seems to indicate that it 

 prefer- our native scale insects and has not yet fully accustomed itself 

 to the San Jose scale nor to the recently introduced Di ispis pentagona. 

 It may take hold of these new scale insects in the course of year-, but 

 it certainly does not do so at present in a manner to be of any great 

 assistance in keeping them in check.' 7 In Florida and California 

 especially on Citrus trees it is very abundant, as a rule, and an effi- 

 cient enemy of scale insects. The imported species feeds normally 

 and voraciously on the San Jose scale and Dia-pis. and. if it survives 

 our climate and can be established, we may 'hope that it will accom- 

 plish for us some, at least, of the good results which it was seen to 

 achieve generally for China and Japan. 



In the matter of climate, it may be said that the region in which it 

 occured in China and Japan will duplicate nearly enough the eastern 

 United States or California. We have about the same summer and 

 winter temperature and similar general conditions of rainfall and other 

 climatic feature-, so that from this point of view there seems to be no 

 reason why the imported ladybird should not do well. 



That this ladybird or any other parasitic or predaceous insect will 

 ever completely subdue the San Jose scale in the United State- i- very 

 problematical, and there is very little doubt but that in future, a- in 

 the past, to free an orchard from this scale pest it will be necessary 

 to take the direct and active means now being employed, such as the 

 use of oil. or the lime, sulphur, and salt wash, or other remedies 

 which experience shall demonstrate to be effective. What parasites 

 or predaceous enemies may do is to keep this scale in check so that it 

 will not be so generally abundant and destructive, and especially to 

 keep it down in the thousand- of small orchards and gardens where 

 direct -praying operations would not often be undertaken by the 

 owner-. 



In particular districts it may even put a complete check on the San 

 .b>-.- scale for one or several year-. That this i- possible i- indie 



^Toward the end of .Inly some 26 specimens of the native Chilo 



_ i over a san Jose scale-infested pear tree to make comparative stud - 

 the life history and habits of the species. Unfortunately, however, all of these 

 beetles perished, without our securing either eggs or larvae. This rather astonishing 

 and unexpected outcome seemed to be due to a distinct disinclination on the part of 

 these beetles to eat the San Jose scale except in the most sparing manner. 



