29 



enemy to Aspidiot us ficus Riley, which scale I have not seen in Australia, and he 

 probably refers to the common A. rossi Mask. 



Vedalia cardinalis Mais. — Reports have been circulated in Australia that this val- 

 uable little beetle is not a native of that country, notwithstanding my statements 

 made as having found the same in various places daring my former visit. Before 

 my departure on this trip Prof. Riley requested me, if possible, to try to send the 

 insect to the minister of agriculture at Cape Town, which I did. paying the expenses 

 ($5) out of my expense fund. On my arrival in Auckland, New Zealand, the insect 

 was present in one of the parks in all stages, and some two hundred and fifty eggs, 

 larva-, pupa-, and beetles collected on October 8, 1891. were taken to Sydney and 

 fed until a direct steamer left for the Cape on January 30, 1892. During this time 

 the insects were repeatedly hied and kept in a cool chamber when not in Sydney. 

 When shipped, the insects, chiefly eggs and larva 1 , were furnished with plenty of 

 food. leery a, on sticks last cued to the hox with screws, and the steward on steamer 

 said that ice would he taken on hoard at Melbourne about one week later, and he 

 faithfully promised me to place the parcel containing the iusects on the same, which, 

 however, was not done. In a letter received from the honorable Secretary Fisher, 

 dated March 5, 1892, I was informed that hut very few of the insects reached there 

 alive. 



On this last trip the beetle was first met with in Australia, at Mulgoa, New South 

 Wales. December (>. 1891, but one specimen, upon Eucalyptus, infested with Erioeoc- 

 CU8. The second specimen was found at Harwood, Xew South Wales, January 1, 

 1892, upon Casnarina, infested with Monophlebus fuscus Mask. Upon the same trees 

 a second species of these beetles was found and subsequently identified for me as 

 Kovius bellua Blackb. Numbers of empty pupae skins were present on these leaves 

 near the ground below the trees, clearly indicating that the food of these beetles 

 existed upon the same; and I was not mistaken in my surmise, for V. cardinalis was 

 found in large numbers preying upon this Monophlebus on same trees at Sydney, 

 January 31, 1892. The tree tops were examined and the vedalia larva' were actually 

 seen feeding upon the Monophlebid and were subsequently bred upon the same. 



During all summer a colony of Iccrya in one of the streets of Sydney was watched 

 and the Vedalia did not appear niton the same before January, and at the end of one 

 month all the scales had been devoured. During all the latter part of summer the 

 beetles were common in parks at Sydney, and I cannot sec clearly how an insect so 

 common can he overlooked by parties in search thereof. The beetle seems to he 

 well distributed all over Australia, as specimens were seen in the museum at Bris- 

 bane collected at that place; two specimens from west Australia were found in the 

 museum collection at Sydney, and. as Mr. Skuse informed me, must have been there 

 for the last dozen years or more. It was again met with at Adelaide in large num- 

 bers upon tin same trees as found on former visit. 



Afl I have slated in my report of first trip, "this beetle must feed on other scales 

 than the Icerya and very likely will feed upon some of the Monophlebids." The 

 discovery of its feeding upon Monophlebus fuscus Mask, upon Casuarina, will make 

 it easier t<> search for the same, if necessary, and no doubt they can always be found 

 in Xew South Wales and southern Queensland. Not in one instance did I meet with 

 the Vedalia upon Icerya in any orchard or forest in these two colonies. Here the 

 most active Noviua, introduced into California, is constantly in search of the soli- 

 tary specimens of Icerya, and. strange to say. if but a single specimen is present 

 upon one of a dozen large orange trees, this little beetle will iind it and leave its 

 eggs upon the same. 



Novius koebelei Olliff.*— The insects, three in number, were met with first on Oc- 

 tober 28-29, 1891, at 1'arramatta. New South Wales, resting upon the surface of 



►Mr. ODiff informed ine thai he described the Lnsecl under this name, ;m<l Rev. Mr. Blackburn, to 

 whom a specimen wae sent, also informed me that Mr. Olliff had described theinsect. I have not seen 

 the d< sci iption. 



