The insects collected were, as far as it was possible, placed in various 

 boxes in the field, and upon these the contents were noted and directions 

 given to Liberate them upon such coccids as it was expected they would 

 feed upon. In exceptional cases, where there was danger of introducing 

 with them their natural enemies, I suggested that the insects be bred 

 in jars. Experience lias proved to me. both through close study in the 

 tield and breeding of coccinellidse in the house, that the latter method 

 is not practicable, is in tact almost useless, except with a very few species. 

 Most of the Ladybirds will, if confined in jars, devour their eggs almost 

 immediately after they have been laid. In reference to coccids with 

 hard coverings this has been repeatedly observed, even in the field, 

 where they had unlimited space. 



Of about two hundred and fifty Rhizobius debilis Blackb., found feed- 

 ing upon Lecanium cassinice .Mask., infesting the olive trees at Adelaide, 

 South Australia, which had tobekeptin jars with those scales for some 

 time, not one single larva could be obtained. Eggs were often noticed, 

 yet always, and in a very short time, these would be devoured by the 

 beetles. And yet this same insect, from only two specimens left in my 

 garden at Alameda by Mr. Craw, upon Aspidiotus penti<-io.sus Comst., 

 infesting prune and peach trees, had increased within four months to 

 such an extent that they had spread to the adjoining trees, upon which 

 larva- were also present. It is necessary, absolutely necessary, if suc- 

 cess is to !>e expected, that the insects, upon their arrival, should be 

 liberated without a moment's loss of time upon the proper scales. In 

 the held during warm weather, if inclosed in boxes without food for 

 three or four days most of the Coccinellidje would invariably die, 

 even though they were in the best of condition when collected. It will 

 be plainly seen that insects inclosed in boxes for from four to five weeks, 

 even if kept in a dormant state during this time, through the low tem- 

 perature on ice, will, on arrival here, be in a very feeble condition, ami 

 exposure to the dry heat on the way to Los Angeles must be fatal to 

 the largest number of them if not sent on ice, especially so should 

 they be kept in continement in Los Angeles for a few days before liber- 

 ating, or if. as has been the case, the insects should remain inclosed in 

 -lass jars without proper food. I have always insisted that the beetles 

 should be liberated upon such coccids as were indicated on the boxes 

 within which they were inclosed, and I am positive that if but a 

 single gravid female should thus come into an orchard, even if in 

 an almost dying condition, the open air and the proper food, which 

 they are best able to select, would soon bring her back to health, 

 ami that she alone would be able to produce sufficient offspring to 

 make the SUCCCSS of future propagation of the species certain. No 

 gravid female Coccinella will leave a tree that supplies sufficient and 

 proper food for the coining generation, but will remain and deposit all 

 of her eggs upon this one tree in due course of time, and if not dis- 

 turbed in any way tin success »>f the species is assured. 1 will go still 



