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in small number of specimens, but all being engaged in feeding upon 
the Aspidiotus larva?. Wh ether or not they feed also upon the Scales 
themselves has not been ascertained. Pentilia misella (family Coc- 
cineUidw) and its larva? are very abundant on the infested trees and 
constitute an important enemy of the Scale. The imagos seem to prefer 
the full-grown female Scales, and the attitude they assume in attacking' 
the same is quite peculiar. They stand astride over the Scale and 
elevate the posterior part of the body until they assume a nearly 
vertical position, being supported only by the head and the hind legs, 
which are extended to their full length. During this operation the 
head is pushed under the margin of the Scale. Thus practically stand- 
ing upon their heads the beetles devour the contents of the Scale. 
The larva? of the Pentilia were observed to feed on the Aspidiotus 
larva?, and their mode of lifting up the Scales was not ascertained. 
Xo eggs of this useful little Coccinellid could be seen, and at first no 
pupa? were found until it was ascertained that the place of pupation is 
within the calyx of the pears. This cavity is always literally filled 
with a mixture of young and old Aspidiotus. full-grown Pentilia larva?, 
their pupa-, and freshly issued imagos. But (as already observed by 
Mr. Hubbard) these Coccinellid beetles also serve as a means of 
transporting the Aspidiotus larva?, and it is quite difficult to find one 
of these beetles which does not carry on its back at least one specimen. 
Sometimes three or four Aspidiotus larva? may be seen on a single 
elytron of a Pentilia. 
A small, black, shining ant [MonomoHum minutum) is extremely 
abundant on the infested pears, evidently being attracted by the sac- 
charine excretion exuded from the cracks of the fruits. It has no con- 
nection with the Scale, but almost every specimen carries on the back 
one or more specimens of the Aspidiotus larva?. A few specimens of 
Typophorus caneUus. red as well as black specimens, were on the pear 
trees, and here it was observed that on the red specimens no Aspidiotus 
larva? were carried about, while on the black specimens such larva? 
were seen. This preference of the Coccid larva? for the shining black 
insects is also corroborated by other instances. A large red ant (For- 
mica schaufussi) is also quite abundant on the infested pears, but does 
not carry about any Aspidiotus larva? : none were seen on the backs of 
the Collops. and only in a few instances I saw a specimen on the back 
of*the Pentilia larva, which is of a dull olive-brown color. There were 
also a number of Hyphantria larva? on the pear trees, but no Aspidi- 
otus larva? could be seen on them, although the web of the single nest 
I saw had captured a large number of young Aspidiotus. 
Finally. I would state that besides this Pentilia not a single other 
Coccinellid could be seen on the trees, and it appears to me that the 
complete absence of the common GMloeorus bivulnerus. which is by far 
the most effective enemy of Scale insects in Florida, is more especially 
a fact worth recording. 
