624 Introduction of Insects into the U.S. [Jan., 



culture states in his Report for 1905 that very important results 

 have been gained in the introduction of beneficial insects. One 

 of the most striking of these results was the importation and 

 establishment of the fig-fertilising insect of South Europe. 

 The insects were brought over alive and established in an 

 orchard, with the result that after one year ten tons of Smyrna 

 figs were produced. The crop has since continuously increased. 

 Fresh orchards of Smyrna figs have been started, and a new 

 industry has been established as a result of this importation. 



The black scale has been for many years a serious enemy 

 to the citrus and olive crops of California, and although a lady- 

 bird enemy of the scale had been imported from Australia, it 

 was efficacious only in certain portions of California, not thriving 

 in other portions where these crops are largely grown. After 

 several unsuccessful attempts to establish a parasite known as 

 Scutellista cyanea, from Italy, it was found that this species also 

 inhabits South Africa, and from that point specimens were 

 introduced which bred at once in California, and have multiplied 

 with such rapidity as to prove of great benefit to the growers 

 of oranges, lemons, and olives. 



. The injury caused to the cotton crop by the cotton boll 

 weevil is well known, and efforts have been made to discover 

 some insect enemy which would be likely to keep it in check. 

 An interesting ant-like insect, known as the " kalep," was dis- 

 covered in 1904, in Guatemala, by an officer of the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry, and was found to be such an important enemy 

 of the cotton boll weevil in that country as to hold it distinctly 

 in check, and to permit the cultivation of cotton where otherwise 

 it would be impossible on account of the weevil. Colonies of 

 this insect have now been introduced into the United States,, 

 but it is as yet impossible to state whether it will establish 

 itself. 



Another important insect pest in the United States is the 

 San Jose scale, and a ladybird known as Chilocorus similis, has. 

 been imported from Northern China with the view of combating 

 it. A systematic effort is also being made to import the European 

 and Japanese natural enemies of the gypsy moth and the 

 brown-tail moth. 



