37 



also against the armies of vicious ants among which they have to live and against 

 birds in mimicking the scales in this covering. If perchance one of these larva- is 

 removed from its covering it will immediately set to work to bnild a new one« 

 When full grown the larva with its house will search for a convenient place to spin 

 up, which they do most anywhere, exposed upon the twigs, among the dry and 

 curled-up leaves, on stem. etc. But a favorite place is always the forks of branches, 

 a crevice on the stem, or the base of this, partly below ground. Here the house is 

 transformed into a substantial cocoon by spinning up the underside or strongly 

 fastening this part onto the hark. When this is completed the upper side of one 

 end is cut through and here a tube» of various lengths, with an angulated closed 

 valve is formed for the future moth to issue. Within this the larva may remain for 

 a few days to a few months before pupating, according to season or circumstances, 

 and if again taken from this they appear as sluggish, helpless grubs, unable to 

 a jain feed or bnild another cocoon, and will invariably die. The mature insect is a 

 pretty little moth and most variable in color, from light immaculate gray to dark 

 brown, witb strong characteristic markings. 



A second species of these moths was found, the larva of which preys upon Erio- 

 COCCU8 Tepperi Mask., in the Blue Mountains. New South Wales. The full-grown 

 larva of this may easily be distinguished from that of T. cocci pit (i<j a by the two 

 small shiny black piliferous warts upon the dorsal space on segments three to 

 eight; it forms a softer, liner, and stronger cocoon. Ahout a dozen of these and 

 some one hundred and fifty of T. cocciphaga were placed in the olive orchard of 

 Hon. Ellwood Cooper, and no doubt our well known species at least will make its 

 appearance in time. Over one hundred of T. coeeipltaya were* placed in an orange 

 orchard infested with Lecanium olece and L. Ixesperxdum at Haywards. Mr. Coquil- 

 lett is also breeding the insect in confinement. 



Besides the coccids mentioned, the larva was also found preying upon various 

 other species in Australia, such as Palvinaria, Tccrya, and, in fact, will feed upon 

 any of the larger coccids if in numbers. At Brisbane I found them feeding upon 

 Cerbplastes myrica Linn, (probably this species according to Maskell), a coccid re- 

 cently introduced in the botanical gardens at that place, and have since spread 

 over a Large number of shrubs and trees throughout the city. Dr. Bancroft showed 

 me a do/en mango trees actually covered with these coccids. At Sydney they were 

 feeding also upon Ceroplaates ceriferus Anderson, a coccid very destructive to many 

 of the shruhs and trees in the botanical gardens. This coccid appears to he a 

 native of Australia, as it was met with in the woods from Sydney north to Brisbane. 



With us these larva' can he expected to prey upon all Lecanium, Pulrinaria, ](<r- 

 mea, Tcerya, and. in fact, any larger species. I have never found this larva feeding 

 upon the woolly aphis, yet I believe they will do so. 



Tineid larva. — Covering the trunks and limbs of citrus trees with a fine silky web 

 interwoven with remains of scales, under which live numerous small caterpillars of 

 a Tiueid which devour all the coccids. When full grown they spin an elongated 

 llat silken cocoon in which they pupate, and from this a small gray moth issues. 



Upon my first arrival in Sydney on my former trip, Mr. Ramsay, curator of the 

 Australian Museum, sailed my attention to this valuable little moth, but at that 

 lime I did unt. have an opportunity to look into tin- matter. Since then Mr. Tryon 

 refers to the same moth ("Insects and Fungus Tests," p. 128) as an enemy of 

 ChUmaspia eitri Conist.* This latter coccid as well as Myiilaspia Glover* Pack.. 

 appears to ha\ a been introduced into Australia, and they are found very abundant 

 around Paramatta. In two orange orchards adjoining each other, and both of 

 about thirty-five \ ears' standing, the work of the nat nral enemies to coccids and the 

 interference of man could be admirably studied. One of the proprietors, Mr. T. 

 Brien, who obtained first prize from the New Smith Wales Agricultural Department 



•Doubtless this scale will be found upon wild citrus plants in Queensland as well as iu the Fiji 

 Islands. 



