139 



The literature of this interesting subject is not extensive, although 

 many ideas concerning the connection of insects with the Aveather are 

 current in different ])arts of the country, and undoubted facts have been 

 observed relative to the instinctive knowledge which these creatures 

 ])0ssess of changes in tlie weather. We therefore appeal to the readers 

 of Insect Life for assistance in this matter. Please send us any ideas 

 current in your i^art of the country or any facts which you may have 

 observed, 



SUCCESSFUL COLONIZATION OF VEDALIA IN EGYPT. 



In a preceding number (vol. iv, p. 349), we announced the successful 

 arrival at Alexandria, Egypt, of a small consignment of living speci- 

 mens of Yedalia cardinaUis, the little Australian ladybird. It was hoped 

 at the time that this insect would prove as efficient in destroying the Egyx^t- 

 ian Fluted Scale (Iceri/a wgyptiacum) as it has been in California, ]N"ew 

 Zealand, and elsewhere against the leery a purchasi. In our last num- 

 ber (p. 50) allusion was made to a recent report of our esteemed corre- 

 spondent, Eear- Admiral E. 1^. Blomfield, E. K., of the success of our 

 last consignment and of its voluntary spread from the original colony. 

 Through the kindness of this gentleman we have recently received a 

 communication from Mr. J. H. Marsden of Alexandria, who reports that 

 the Yedalia is becoming very generally distributed in that region. Mr. 

 Marsden had started near Bulkeley Station, a small colony of about a 

 dozen specimens taken from the garden of Kubar Pasha. These were 

 placed on a rose bush infested with the Icerya scales and soon repro- 

 duced. Fearing that their progress might be retarded owing to the 

 rapid disappearance of the scales, search was made and a branch of 

 an orange tree, ^'apparently full of the pest" was found, but on care- 

 ful examination it was seen that all the Iceryas had been killed, and 

 all of the orange trees in this garden being in a similar condition, diffi- 

 culty was exijerienced in finding any living scales to serve as a fresh 

 food supply. The Yedalias, however, were abundant in all stages. A 

 month later on visiting this garden the ladybirds had also disappeared 

 and Mr. Marsden felt confident that the pest had, in this short time, 

 been practically exterminated. But as has been the case in other coun- 

 tries where introduced the Iceryas soon recovered from the first on- 

 slaught of the little destroyer, and are again at work. They are, how- 

 ever, accompanied by the Yedalias in one stage or another. Mr. Mars- 

 den has kindly offered to report anything that may be worthy of note 

 in the future. 



JAMAICA MUSEUM NOTES. 



We have received from Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, Curator of the Mu- 

 seum of the Institute of Jamaica, Kingston, Nos. 19, 23, and 24 of the 

 stencil-process notes of the Museum. No. 19 records the finding of a 

 new wax insect^ Ceroplastes utiUs, n. sp., which i^roduces such an abun- 

 6757— :sro. 2 6 



