1 Dec., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 471. 
Clover, in 1874 efforts were made to send over from England to New Zealand 
certain Aphid parasites to check the alarming increase of these plant pests there 
(C. V. Riley). Whether they were established or not is uncertain, but if so it may 
be affirmed that no noticeable results have been attained. Albert Koebele, however, 
found whilst in Australia the turopean ‘Lipo/eris rapa, Curtis, infesting the cabbage 
aphis. The present writer has reared from the same pest the Aphidius brassica of 
Marshall, whilst Mr. C. French has figured a parasite whose systematic position 
cannot be assigned from the material in hand.* 
The service rendered to the United States by Australia in furnishing a successful 
enemy to the Cottony Cushion Scale that attacked their orange groves with such 
disastrous results was, as stated by the late C. V. Riley, partly repaid by the trans- 
mission hither of “some of: their predatory Coleoptera and some of the Pacifie Coast 
parasites of the Codlin Moth, and a species of the interesting genus Raphidia 
(Neuroptera) that preys upon the Codlin Moth also.” Now, it was announced that 
Raphidia were received in New Zealand by Mr. Allan White, but nothing further 
has been heard of these insects or their work. 
As a further instance of importation may be mentioned the fact, that some few 
years since, the New Zealand Government introduced from England to that colony two 
hymenopterous parasiies of the Hessian Fly that had previously become established 
in its wheat fields. These were Semiotellus Nigriceps and Platygaster Minutus. 
The ultimate issue of this experiment is not known, though there can be no doubt but 
that the insect has become established.t 
Although the figure that is given by Mr. T. Kirk in support of his statement is 
copied from C. V. Riley and not directly from the insect before him, so that there is 
nothing to show that the latter was not an example of the local one met with by 
Sir James Hector in 1888. 
With regard to further introductions of parasitic and predaceous insects, it were 
worth while to consider whether it were not expedient to take steps to introduce 
afresh here certain American destroyers of the Codlin Moth, especially Pimpla 
annulipes, Br., and Macrocentrus delicatus, Cresson. ‘lo deal with the apple weevil 
of Victoria and Tasmania (Conotrachelus nenuphar), might be imported the 
hymenopterous parasites Sigalphus Curculionis, Fitch, and Porizon conotracheli, 
Riley. In ecntending with the Mussel Scale of the same fruit the parasite Aphelinus 
mytilaspidis. another American insect, might be introduced. ie Baron locally 
distributed this some years since with success. Finally, for the destruction of our 
Pink Wax Scale (Ceroplastes rubra, Mast.) we might introduce from the Sandwich 
Islands two parasites that are reported to check its increase there—viz., the Chaleidid 
Flies (/omocera californica) and Coccophagus sp—as well as the third species 
(introduced there) that preys upon a second Ceroplastes (C. floridensis), 
Though a favourable result cannot be anticipated with certainty in the case of 
importations from distant countries, and especially of insects whose powers of accom- 
modating themselves to altered environment is unknown, it is otherwise when an 
insect is to be derived from a comparatively approximate region and the insect has 
already shown its adaptability for becoming ‘‘naturalised in a new locality.” It 
would therefore appear that the Scymnid Beetle (Oryptolemus montrouzieri, 
Mulsomt), whose existence as an Australian insect and whose marked’ utility as a 
destroyer of harmful insects was first made known by the writer, might be profitably 
taken from Queensland to New Zealand in order to reduce to harmless proportions 
the number of the Mealy Bugs (Dactylopius adunidum) that have aeteekedt the vines 
there with such serious results. The writer, being of this persuasion, has much 
pleasure in handing to Mr. T. W. Kirk, the Biologist of the New Zealand Govern- 
ment, a number of those useful insects in order that they may be placed under such 
circumstance as may be conducive to their accomplishing what is expected of them. 
Tt must be remembered, however, that Cryptulemus is naturally a sub-tropical insect, 
occurring, in addition to Hastern Australia, in New Caledonia, Fiji, Ceylon, and 
Southern China. It will therefore be expected to succeed best in glass houses. 
Some intimation of the useful work of this insect is given in a paper by the writer 
entitled “ Cryptoleamus montrouzieri, or,the Scale Insects’ Enemy”; but since this was 
written thus, the beetle under consideration has been introduced into the Sandwich 
* It must be adinitted of this insect, however, that he has figured what would appear to be 
the above SPATE re Pieeen aor it as the parasite of the cabbage moth (Plucella cruciferarum), 
and Mr. T. W. Kirk has copied his apparent error. 
+ Report of the Government Biologist (cf. T. W. Kirk), 1894-5, p. 63. 
