The record-union., 1892-07-02
SCALE DESTROYERS.
The Latest Importation of Enemies
of Tree Pests.
A Species of Lady-Bug Which Is Death
on the Cottony Cushion and
other Scale.

In this weeks issue of the Rural Press
is an interesting article by Secretary Lee
long, Chief Horticultural Officer of the
State, on scale-destroying insects. Mr..
Lelong states that on April 18th last he
received three very small and insignif-
cant-looking insects that prey on the cot
tony cushion scale from Albert Koebele,
now in Australia, collecting beneficial in
sects. Mr.. Koebele discovered this in
sect in Australia, and it was named in
his honor by Sidney Olliff, Government
Entomologist of New South Wales.
AS soon as these insects were received
they were turned over to Entomologist
Alexander Craw, who placed them in a
small glass jar in which branches in
fected with cottony cushion scale had
been previously placed for them to feed
on. Subsequently one of these insects
died, leaving but two, which on April
Goth changed to the pupa or chrysaiis
state. and on May lst the perfect beetles
emerged and fortunately were male and
female. On May 4th the female depos-
tied eggs, which Matched May 9th. The
young larvae were carefully reared and
after passing through three molts changed
into the pupa state, and on June Sd hfty-
five perfect beetles came out, thus ocCu-
pying just thirty-one days from the egg
to the beetle stage. When liberated on
trees they will, no doubt, pass through
their transformation in much less time.
IN about month, says Mr.. Lelong, we
shall have thousands OF these beetles Tor
distribution.
The successful colonization of this in
sect was most fortunate, and while we
already have cottOny cushion scale eX-
terminator in the Nedalia, an insect form
erly introduced yet this one adds another
chapter to the annals Of economic ento-
mology hitherto unprecedented.
In previous articles the beneficial in
sects discovered by Mr.. KOebele were re-
por&ed to show what is being done by way
of their Introduction, with the hope that
they would accomplish the same results
here as in their native country, If once
they become established. While this in
vestigation was still in progress state
ments appeared in the public press ad-
vising that what was then said be taken
with great deal of allowance, and one in
particular read: "It will be many years
yet, perhaps centuries, but most likely
never before we succeed in Introducing
beneficial insects that will free our fruit
trees of all the insect pests that attack
them. Tie work that the Vedalia ac-
coInplished is without precedent in the
entire annals OF economic entomology,
and, therefore, we can scarcely hope for
q repetition of it in the case of the re-
Gently imported species" Thus dampeT
was thrown upon the objects in view,
but fortunately nature triumphs over the
unwarranted deductions of theorists.
The discovery Of this valuable insect
whose functions equal, if not surpass, the
Nedalia cardinals, ought to silence those
who, on theory, condemn as impossible
what is easily accomplished in the field ol
experiment. Experiments will soon be
made to determine upon what other
species this insect will also work, and the
results will be given to the public from
time to time.
DESCRIPTION.
Beetle slightly smaller than Vedalia
cardinals, averaging one-eighth Of al
inch in length. The elytra are cardinal
red when the perfect beetle issues from
the pupa case, afterward changing to deep
blood red. The male has a black line
down the center of the back from the
thoraX to the point of the abdomen
where it widens, extending forward
along the lower edge OF the elytra to near
the center, where it terminates in a small
bIotch. Head and thoraX dark, and to-
gether with the elytra are densely COW
cred with microscopic light or yellowish
hairs. The legs are black with the eX.
ception of the tarsi, which are buff col
ored.
The female can readily be distinguished
from the male in having the central black
line extended only half way down tht
back; the balance of the wing covers ART
blood red, with the exception of twt
faint spots, one slightly under the cente
of each wing cover, but in some speci
mems this is not discernible.
The eggs measure .03 of an inch il
length by 0l of an inch wide, and ar
deep blood red in color. The female de
posits them upon or near the scale so tha
when the larvae hatch they will convent
emily find their food. The eggs are laiC
siugly or in small patches upon thei
sides instead of being attached at the enc
to the leaf or twig, as is the case with th
twice-stabbed and some other species O
lady birds. In five days they hatch int
small six-legged Larvae, very much re
sembling the young Of the lcerya upol
which they feed. In confinement the
pass through three molts and the chrysa
lis state into perfect beetles within thirty
one days, but in the warm orchards anC
sunshine this time will probably be re
duced ten days.
The larvae, when full grown, measur
about .1S Of an inch and are thickly GOV
cred with white powder or fine cotton
but generally leaving the SegmentS we
defined. When newly molted they ar
brownish-red or chocolate colored. Dow
each side of the back are what appea
like two black lines; but when examine
with q good lens or microscope will b
seen TO De QOuDle row OF uOtS or SnOl
lines upon each segment, and betwee
the segments are large black spots form
ing q central row to the other markings
Upon each segment along the sides pro
trude small warts, from each of whic
are four fine hairs. The first two seq
ments from the head each have two eX
ira. smaller warts with a single hair upo
each.
When full grown, the larva seeks
suitable location to go through the chry
sails stage This is generally upon tn
branch or dry leaf, where it attaches il
self. head downward, by gummy mat
ter exuded from the abdomen. In thi
position it remains few days, when tn
back of the chrysalis splits Longitude
nally, exposing the pupa which late
changes into the perfect beetle.
EVERYBODY'S COLUMN
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