28 



of Dactylopius, which affects especially the spot where the leaves and branches 

 unite, and the parasites were at one time so numerous that the death of this valu- 

 able tree from their attacks seemed very imminent. However, the Chryptoltrmus 

 hectic also visited the Araucarias and in some places its larvae occurred in such pro- 

 fusion that the trunks of these trees and the ground around their bases looked as if 

 Hour had been dusted in patches here and there upon them. Both in its adult and 

 larval condition it waged war upon the coccid insects, and as a result these trees 

 are saved from destruction. This friendly insect is none other than the one which 

 is met with on various native trees, especially acacias, and also on the citrus and 

 other economic plants of our gardens. These it also visits for the purpose of rid- 

 ding them or at least checking the increase of the various scale insects, especially 

 those belonging to the Lecankbe. which infest these trees, and this pest it literally 

 mows down to the surface of the leaves, so great is its voracity." 



The insect was met with in almost all places visited, and breeding, besides, npon 

 all the Mealy Bugs (Dactylopius), on various species of Lecavium, Eriococcus (n. sp. 

 Maskell), upon Caeuarina at "Whitton, New South Wales, upon Eriocoecus leplospermi 

 Mask., around Sydney and Mount Victoria, upon Eriocoecus Tepperi Mask., on 

 Eucalyptus at Parramatta, and upon Rhizococcus arauearim Mask., on Araucaria 

 excelsior at Sydney. A large bush of Eucalyptus badly infested with Eriocoecus Tep- 

 peri was a favorable "hunting ground" for gathering eggs and larvae of Thalpo- 

 chares cocciphaga Meyr., and when these beetles with their voracious appetite ap- 

 peared upon the bush it was soon clear of all coccids. 



While the work of these larva? upon soft coccids is something remarkable, when 

 it comes to the harder insects, as for instance Lceanium, it is by no means so effec- 

 tive. The beetle was repeatedly bred in confinement in large numbers, in the hope 

 of rearing parasites from the larva', but 1 failed to do so, and this may be one of 

 the very few coccinellid larva? of Australia that are not attacked by internal para- 

 sites. The white, powdery covering of the larva- is no doubt a protection against 

 the enemies; in fact the larvae with its covering mimics many scales upon which it 

 feeds. 



The beetles were sent over here by every steamer from Australia and should be 

 introduced. I look for their appearance at Hon. Elwood Cooper's place, who received 

 some and liberated them upon the Black Scale. Mr. Coquillett, who received the 

 most, informed me of having sent the living beetles to Washington. The beneticial 

 work of this beetle could not be estimated in some of the tropical countries, such 

 as the Hawaiian Islands, which abound with Dactylopidae and Lecanid;e. The in- 

 sect was also found in New Caledonia upon Lecanium longulum Douglass, on guava, 

 and upon Lecanium cassinia- Mask, on oleander. 



Boculus fourncti Muls. — I have bred this insect from a larva resembling that of the 

 Chryptolaiuus, but somewhat more roundish and covered with a denser mass of 

 white, cottony exudation. They were feeding upon peculiar large, tlat Dactylopius 

 found under the bark of various Eucalyptus at Melbourne. The beetle was also met 

 with at Toowoomba, Queensland. 



Boculus conrexus Blackb.* — But two specimens of this were retained from material 

 collected on the Richmond River, New South Wales One or both of these Boculi 

 may have been sent to California, as everything collected was forwarded and only 

 occasionally specimens were saved. 



Platyouius Uvidigaster Muls. — Rarely found around Sydney upon orange; is more 

 numerous northward, common at Brisbane. This peculiar larva, with a double row 

 of lateral, long, fleshy spines, was found preying upon Aphis on orange at Harwood, 

 .New South Wales. January 1. 1892. Mr. Tryon has shown me this insect, with the 

 following localities: "Cairnes, Hamilton. Wootoolah, and Brisbane." He describes 

 an insect agreeing with this on page 134 ofhislnsects and Fungus Pests, ;is an 



Bev. Blackburn described tbia new form in Transactions <>t the Royal Society of South Aus- 

 tralia, 1892, xi. p. 72. 



