5 ° 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. IV, No. 3 , 
acteristic differences, lienee it has been found that this is the 
easiest way of determining the species. Tlie imported species 
appears to be more prolific than its native congener and when 
food was abundant about five generations were produced annually 
at Washington, D. C., according to Mr. Marlatt. 
On August 12, 1903, through the courtesy of Dr. L. O. How- 
ard, Entomologist to the United States Department of Agricul- 
ture, a shipment of twenty of these beetles was sent to the writer. 
Unfortunatel}', it was not received until August 17, and only 
three of the insects were alive. The beetles were immediateh' 
taken to an orchard infested with the San Jose scale near With- 
amsville in Clermont county. One of these escaped from the box 
before arriving at the orchard but the other two were placed on 
an infested peach tree. Thej’ were observed for some time after 
being liberated and, although they were quite active, made no 
attempt to away. After crawling about for some time both 
beetles began to feed upon the .scales and young lice. 
Owing to the fact that only two individuals were placed in the 
orchard it was feared that they might disappear, but five days 
after they were liberated the orchard was visited by Mr. Otto H. 
Sweze\’, one of my assistants, and both beetles were found feed- 
ing u])on the scales on the same tree where they had been placed. 
No further observations were made until October 28, when a 
hast}- examination revealed twelve adults present on the tree 
where the planting was made. Empty larval .skins and pupa 
cases were also noted, but no beetles or larvae could be found on 
any of the adjoining trees in the orchard. 
Another shipment of this insect was made to Mr. P. J. Parrott, 
Entomologist to the Ohio Exj^eriment .Station, and were placed in 
an orchard in Danbury, Ottawa county. I am informed by Mr. 
J. S. Hauser, Assistant Entomologist to the Station, that none of 
the beetles were found at the time the last examination was made. 
It is intere.sting to note that this species will breed in southern 
Ohio, but the question of its ability to survive the winter is still 
to be determined. Colonies have successfulh' passed the winter 
at Washington, D. C., and Marshallville, Georgia, but I under- 
stand that no shipments were placed last fall at a latitude north 
of the former locality. 
Although this ladybird, if it succeeds in surviving the winter 
season, will add another insect to the list of beneficial species in 
Ohio, it is still an open question whether it will prove as benefi- 
cial in holding the San Jose scale in check as it does in its native 
home. P'or this reason it would be very unwise for any orchardist 
to neglect to treat his trees that are infested with the San Jose 
scale until the efficiency of the work of the beetles has been 
thoroughly demonstrated. 
Columbus, Ohio. 
