PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS CONVENTION. 157 



About fourteen species of Hemiteles are recorded in the United 

 States as parasitic on some moth or butterfly. We can readily see that 

 even here in our own country there are chances for investigation in 

 the new phase of insect parasitism. 



A very effective genus of this order is Apanteles, and there are no 

 less than thirty-nine species recorded as being parasitic on Lepidoptera. 

 If we had a few of these Apanteles species to aid our parasites, we 

 would doubtless get some relief from the attacks of such pests as the 

 oak-moth caterpillar. 



Eoughly speaking, there are about fifteen hundred species of lady- 

 birds in the world, and by far the majority are enemies of scale insects 

 and plant lice. Probably two hundred species belong to our country, 

 leaving a great army of fighters to draw on, and it should be our policy 

 to procure as many of these as we can, for all would aid in reducing our 

 foes. 



Having mentioned the parasites we have and which are doing much 

 toward keeping our pests below the danger limit, I may mention some 

 of our pests for which we have no efficient parasites as yet. 



The vine-hopper (Typhlocyba comes) has caused much loss at times 

 to the raisin men of our State, and only by clean culture or through 

 climatic conditions have we been able to make profits. The right para- 

 site would give great relief to the grape industry and would cause great 

 rejoicing among the growers. 



The peach-root borer (Sanninoidea opalescens), which is only found 

 in a few counties of our State, is supposed to be a native insect, but in 

 the orchards we have not yet found any parasites attacking it. This 

 species was first found in the Sierras, and its natural food plant is 

 probably our wild plum or cherry, and if we should find it in its 

 native food we would no doubt find its parasite. 



The cherry slug {J&riocampoides limacina) is a very serious pest of 

 the pear and cherry, and should be easily kept in check by parasites, as 

 the slug, or larva, is always exposed on the upper side of the leaf, and 

 is therefore very accessible to an attack. A very effective parasite 

 is known, to exist in New Zealand and it would not take much to get it 

 here. 



The pear thrips (Euthrips pyri) is another very serious pest of the 

 deciduous orchards and a very hard insect to combat on account of its 

 hiding habits. It has been in the State but a few years ; where it came 

 from nobody knows, but from its habits there is a possible chance that 

 it was brought from France with the Myrobolan seedlings. Much loss 

 has been experienced by the prune-growers of the Santa Clara Valley, 

 where it first made its appearance. An efficient parasite would mean 

 much for the future welfare of the industry. 



Mealy Bugs : Under this head may be included the two species gen- 

 erally found in the State and which have of late caused much anxiety 



