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duce  in  the  United  States  the  parasites  of  Galerucella,  at  leas  l 
four  of  which  exist  in  Europe,  and  specially  the  egg  parasite, 
Tetrastichus  xanthomelcmae  (Rond.),  the  biology  of  which  Prof. 
Marchel  had  studied  in  1905. 
In  1908  Prof.  L.  O.  Howard  received  about  a hundred  living 
specimens  of  this  parasite  and  had  the  eggs  of  Galerucella  infested 
by  them. 
In  the  same  year  their  acclimatization  and  multiplication  became 
noticeable  around  Boston  and  colonies  could  be  sent  to  various 
other  States. 
If  as  is  probable  the  adults  of  Tetrastichus  born  from  the  last 
eggs  of  Galerucella  should  pass  the  winter  and  part  of  spring  in 
good  condition,  there  will  be  a great  multiplication  of  them  this 
year  so  as  to  have  individuals  to  distribute  in  all  the  regions  in- 
fected by  Galerucella  and  within  a few  years  theii  effect  will  be 
evident  by  having  rendered  inconsiderable  the  existence  of  another 
insect  which  now  inflicts  great  damage  to  a plant  mainly  used  for 
ornament. 
SPHENOPHORUS  OBSCURUS. 
The  larva  of  this  Coleopteron,  which  was  noticed  for  the  first 
time  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  1865,  bores  galleries  in  the  stalk 
of  the  sugar  cane  inflicting  pretty  serious  injury. 
In  1904  the  damage  caused  by  this  insect  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands  was  calculated  to  about  $500,000.  It  also  attacks  bananas 
(Musa  sp.),  two  species  of  palms  ( Caryote  urens  and  Oreodoxa 
regia)  besides  the  coco  palm  and  the  papaya  ( Carica  papaya). 
The  Hawaiian  Sugar  Planters’  Association,  having  defeated 
Perkinsiella,  as  related  above,  is  hoping  now  to^find  enemies  of 
Sphenophorus  and  keeps  for  this  work  an  entomologist,  Muir, 
traveling  in  Malaysia,  to  search  for  parasites  of  this  species. 
He  has  so  far  succeeded  in  finding  two  predators : one  Histerid 
and  one  Elaterid  besides  a Dipteron,  an  endophagous  Tachinid. 
The  breeding  of  the  first  two  had  begun  in  Honolulu.  We  shall 
learn  this  year  the  result  of  this  introduction  and  of  the  others 
later. 
DIPTERA.  CERATITIS  CAPITATA. 
Ceratitis  capitata , “orange  fly”  as  we  call  it,  is  actually  spread 
over  southern  Europe,  North  and  South  Africa,  Canary  Islands, 
Bermuda,  Mauritius,  a large  part  of  Australia  and  South  America 
south  of  Rio  de  Janeiro. 
Its  original  home  seems  to  be  the  Mediterranean  region  where 
it  causes  periodical  damage. 
The  female  of  this  species  deposits  eggs  in  the  pulp  of  many 
fruits  among  which  in  our  country  oranges,  peaches,  apricots, 
indian  figs,  and  in  exotic  countries  besides  these  in  various  fruits 
