T5 



p ants to feed upon the scales. An investigation showed but few of 

 the coceids left, yet many white specks were seen where these had been 

 removed. Mr. Tryon also speaks of these birds as feeding upon black 

 scales in Queensland. 



The Woolly Aphis is doing extensive injury to apple trees in New 

 Zealand, and it is hardly likely that this pest can be better or more 

 successfully fought than with natural enemies, since all the trees are 

 grafted upon blight-proof stock, and the insect in reality only works 

 above ground. The various ladybirds, syrphid, and Chrysopa larva', 

 if introduced, could easily keep these trees practically free. I would 

 also advise an attempt to introduce the lepidopterus larva that preys 

 upon a closely related form of aphid upon bamboo in Xew Caledonia. 

 This could easily be accomplished through the agricultural depart- 

 ment of New South Wales, where the insect could be tried first. 



])act}/Jopii(.s aurilanatu8 Mask, was met with in countless numbers 

 upon Araucaria lti<liiilli Hooker, in the parks at Auckland, as yet free 

 from any natural enemies. By introducing a few Cryptolcemus mon- 

 trouzieri Muls., from Sydney, the trees could be freed of this in a very 

 short time and the beetles would also become great benefactors in 

 feeding upon most of the Leeanidfme and Coccidina?, with which Xew 

 Zealand is well supplied. Indeed this is one of the most valuable in- 

 sects that could be had for New Zealand. Tlialpocliares cocciphaga 

 Meyr. should also be introduced for the various large coceids. 



Ou October 9, 1891. the first lot of insects were sent to Mr. Coquillett 

 from Xew Zealand. On the same day I left for Australia and here the 

 best field for predaceous insects was found. The amount of new 

 material found during my seven months' work, chiefly in Xew South 

 Wales, will show that a great deal of work is yet to be done in Austra- 

 lia in the way of studying the beneficial iusects. Very little of this is 

 as yet known in the northern and western part of the continent. 



AUSTKALIA. 



If once thoroughly known the number of Coccidre and their enemies 

 in Australia will be something astonishing, and it will be found that 

 this country is the original home of many species that have spread 

 over the greater part of the globe. 



As regards the Lecanidae, I am of the opinion that L. olece Bern. 

 originated in Australia, since I have never been able to find any tree 

 or shrub infested with i his that did not show some male scales or traces 

 of such. It is true that the form L. cassinice Mask., in which I could 

 never find any difference from L. oha\ and which, according to Mr. Mas- 

 kell himself, u may yet prove to be a small variety of L. oIea\ v is always 

 tin- most numerous. Everywhere throughout the country this was met 

 with upon very many shrubs and trees. I have seen forms upon orange 

 and lemon trees fully as large as any olece and hardly different in color. 

 And is it not very strange that L. cassiniw should be found alone upon 



