\ 
eee 
SA i BOR SAO cea SAS 
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
ee 
There are many examples of the success of the biological methods 
of controlling insects, but only a comparatively few can be mentioned 
One of the most notable, as well as one of the first triumphs achieved 
was that against the Cottony Cushion Scale (Icerya purchast) or Fluted 
Scale of the orange. ‘This scale is reputed to be a native of Australia 
but is not a menace here, as it is held in check by natural enemies, 
It became established in New Zealand, South Africa, and California 
(1868). So formidable did it become in the last country by 1888 
as the controlling parasites were absent, and conditions were very 
favorable for its rapid spread, that it threatened to ruin the citrus 
industry. All attempts to fight the scale with spraying and insecticides 
were in vain, and the growers appealed to the Entomology Divison of 
the Federal Agricultural Department. The Entomology Division and 
the State Board of Horticulture of California decided to co-operate and 
to send two entomologists to Australia to search for parasites, for the 
dipterous fly in particular. This parasite had been sent to Washington - 
for examination, and had been named Lestophonus icery@, by which 
name it is known throughout California, although the more correct 
name is stated to be Cryptochetum monophlebi (Skuse). One of the 
[Cal. M. Bul., Vol. I1., Nos. 1 and 2. 
(Hairy Caterpillar) Larva of Moth covered with Cocoons 
of an internal parasite. « 
_ entomologists (Koebele) was successful (1888) in sending many living 
_ specimens of this fly, and of a ladybird Vedalia (Novius) -cardinalis, 
to California. The parasitized scales, received in the first instance 
from Mr. Crawford, were placed in cages enclosing orange trees in Los 7 
_ Angeles, and the parasites were seen to issue. Mr. Koebele was sent 
out to secure large quantities of the parasite, and he succeeded in 
supplying Mr. Coquillet, in Los Angeles, with 12,000 specimens, which 
were established in the open. Novius cardinalis was sent from Cali- 
fornia to Florida, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Portugal, Cape Colony, 
_ Hawaiian Islands, and New Zealand, and good results were obtained. 
Dr. Howard gives the following reasons for its success:—(1) Novius 
produces in one year double the number of generations that Icerya does; 
(2) Novius feeds preferably on the eggs of Icerya; (3) Novius was _ 
introduced free from its own parasites; (4) Novius is an active insect, 
while Icerya is fixed to a plant. ; 
Some recent work of great interest to Australians was that carried 
out by the late E. J. Vosler, then Fore‘gn Collector for the Insectary 
Division of the Californian State Commission of Horticulture. The — 
480 
¥ 
FOF ee Te 
ae 
4 
ie ee 
ant 
ae Nee ORF EN ees) ee eee 
i! 
154 
‘ia bi 
ote 
ela 
—— 
ee 
ee 
ws 
. 
