Ve 
164 , 
S. flavihirtus, and S. fagus were collected and sent to California. These 
all prey upon various species of scale-insects, but it is hardly to be sup- 
posed that they will accomplish any better results in California than — 
do our native species of this genus, all of which have a similar habit. 
The most encouraging information comes to us under date of Novem- 
ber 1 irom Sydney. He there finds that Orecus chalybeus, a steel-blue 
Lady-bird, is a most important enemy of the Red Scale. He has found 
them by the hundreds, and has observed the mature insects eating the 
scales. All of the trees were “Tull of eggs,” and the larve were swarm- 
ing upon all the orange and lemon trees infested with the Red Seale. 
He secured and sent a large lot of the eggs and many of the adult 
beetles. He also sent the allied Oreus australasie, also found feeding 
upon the Red Seale, and a number of Scymnids, one of which was very 
numerous, feeding upon the same scale-insect. Another species was 
found feeding mainly upon the Flat Scale (Lecanium hesperidum) and 
the Black Scale (Lecanium olew). He also forwarded a number of 
Leis conformis, which, as stated in Bulletin No. 21 of this Division, is 
the commonest enemy of the Woolly Root-louse of the Apple. Unfor- 
tunately Mr. Koebele does not state whether the three insects men- 
tioned as feeding upon the Red Scale were successful in holding that 
destructive insect in check, and upon this point naturally depends much 
of their value to California. Our agent at Los Angeles, Mr. D. W. Co- 
guillett, has been instructed to spare no pains to properly care for and 
colonize whatever may be received irom Mr. Koebele, and is fully pre- 
pared to do so. This large sending arrived at Los Angeles, we are sorry 
to state, in rather bad condition. Twenty-eight beetles, however, were 
alive, including nine of O. chalybeus, and no effort will be spared to keep 
them in good condition and to induce them to propagate. 
Vedalia in Demand.—During November we had a pleasant visit from 
Mr. Thomas A. J. Louw, a member of the legislative assembly of the 
Cape of Good Hope, who was visiting this country with imstructions 
trom the Government of the Cape to look into certain matters connected 
with the cultivation, canning and packing of fruit, and the working of 
agricultural societies in this country. Among the objects of his visit 
there was, however. mentioned specifically that of obtaiming a supply of 
Vedalia cardinalis, and he was authorized to neur any expenditure nee- 
essary to procure specimens and carry them alive to Cape Town. Mr. 
Louw, of course, waited upon the Secretary, who cordially commended 
him to the chiefs of his several divisions with instructions to afford him 
every facility in furthering the objects of his visit. Accordingly the 
Entomologist at once wrote to Mr. Coquillett to make every effort to 
have a good supply of living beetles on hand against Mr. Louw’s arrival 
in California, and to use his best endeavors to make a success of the 
sending. We advised Mr. Louw to carry his material In two ways: 
a a ee ae 
