44 EEPO r ET OF SEAECH FOE ENEMIES OF CITEUS WHITE FLY. 
frequently somewhat severely. The white fly was found on citrus 
trees throughout this region, with the exception of the Central 
Provinces and the Bombay Presidency; in these places it was seen 
only on Jasminum. Probably the majority of citrus trees examined 
were entirely free of the white fly, and where this insect was present 
it was entirely under control, barring two or three exceptions. On 
the Jasminum, hov\ r ever, it was seldom that living material was not 
present, and frequently infestation was more or less severe. 
The Jasmmum is a low, spreading bush with very dense foliage, 
which remains on the plant throughout the year. The broods of 
the white fly on this species are not distinct as on the citrus plants, 
which was shown by the presence of adult white flies on Jasminum 
at several different times between the months of May and October. 
Enough has already been stated to show the preference, in many 
instances in India, of the white fly for the Jasminum rather than 
for citrus plants. The following additional evidence is in itself con- 
clusive: During May, while adult flies were emerging in large num- 
bers on a Jasminum bush, a number of small seedling orange trees 
of very tender foliage were placed immediately about the plant, so 
that the leaves of the orange trees were in contact with those of 
the Jasminum. Very few flies settled on these orange trees, while 
large numbers would be present on leaves of the Jasminum within 
a few inches of the former. Even if the bush was so disturbed 
that the flies in their flight would settle on the orange trees they 
would ultimately desert these in order to go back to the original 
food plant. _ 
In addition to citrus plants and Jasminum the only other host 
of Aleyrodes citri seen hi India was a large-leaved vine — Hiptage 
mandalobata. The citrus white fly appears to be less parasitized on 
these two hosts than on citrus trees. 
PROBABLE NATIVE HOME OF ALEYRODES CITRI. 
Authorities on citrus fruit trees are generally agreed that the 
native home of this group of plants is southeastern Asia. The 
writer's observations in the Orient support this conclusion in all 
respects. By far the most common variety of citrus fruit hi the 
Oriental region is the tangerine (Mandarin) orange, including other 
forms so closely allied as evidently to belong to the same group. 
Tangerines are found everywhere that citrus plants can be grown. 
The writer has seen them throughout the Indian Empire, where 
they form the bulk of the orange crop, in Ceylon, Java, and the 
Philippines. In China they are extensively grown and are found 
also in southern Japan. That oranges are not native to but have 
been introduced from the mainland into the surrounding; islands is 
