The herald., 1893-08-14
ABOUT THE LADYBIRD.
SOME SIDE LIGHTS ON AN IMPORT
ANT SUBJECT.
what Alexander Draw Thinks of the
Bug-Professor Coquiilett's Latest
Printed Opinion OF the
Orcus Chaly beus.

Rural Press are self explanatory. They
pertain to the steel blue foe OF the red
and black scale, whose progress just now
is watched with such interest by fruit
growers:
To THE EDITOR: Mr.. D. W. Coquil-
ett's letter, regarding the increase OF
he steel-blue lsdybird, orcus chalybeus,
printed in your iesue of the 9th instant,
gives the reader the impression that it
will yet prove of no benefit, notwith-
standing the reports to the contrary.
From the date OF the arrival OF the
last shipment OF predaceous insects
from Australia, bitter and determined
warfare has been waged against them by
parties whose interest and duty were to
protect them. This antagonism was
largely owing to professional jealousy OF
Prof. Koebele and of the state board OF
horticulture, to whose combined efforts
is due their presence here. The press
has been filed with denunciations of
the state board and of M. Kosbele,
condemnatory resolutions have been
passed at presumed meetings, and ad-
verse petitions have been gotten up, all
having the same point of inspiration
and all aiming at the came end-the
nullifying of the good work of the board
and enabling envy-inspired enemies to
exclaim, II told you so !'
In the midst os thia. the boafd-has re-
manned quiet. reliant upon the assur---
ance of Mr.. Koebele that time would
prove the value Of his tabors for the
fruit-growers of California.
Time has done SO. and from the most
rthonfio ooprcas foIav lauvn thar
despite it's studied neglect, its abandon
ment to it's fate, its exposure to all the
adverse storms and insectivorous birds
(inspired, perphaps, with the hope that
it would never again be heard from),
the orcus chalybeus has redeemed the
reputation of its importer and stands to-
day among the foremost OF the orchard
ists' friends. The evidences of this are
not furnished by its enthusiastic friends,
but it has forced itself upon public at
tention, and men whom experience has
taught have given their evidence, based
upon closest observation, OF its rapid
spread and its good work.
The contest over the orcus chaly ybeus
now raging in Los Angeles and which it
has been sought to transfer to San Fran
cisco is between those who have been
compelled to realize and admit the value
of this enemy of the red scale and those
whose interest it is to discredit its labors
and its value. So important is its work
that the supervisors of Los Angeles. at
the instance of Q committee OF 10 repre-
senting the fruit-growers who are bene-
fitted by it, have been compelled to take
measures for it's preservation.
In his report. written nearly year
ago, Mr.. Coquillett says of the orcus
chalybers "While they do not increase
with sufficient ra2idity to give US the
assurance that they will be able to prac.
tically free all of the trees in this state
of the different kinds OF scale insects
that infect them. still they will undoubt-
edly prove valuable allies in keeping
these scale insects down."
1t ie not to be expected that they will
ever free all the trees III this state OF all
the scale insects; If they did they would
do something heretofore unhsa rd of
Even ths vedalia has not freed all the
trees in fhis etate OF tbs cottoyypeasti;pu
scale. nor will it ever 90 90, butyl Are 9
ports have proven the truth OF thatossc
se,tion. that it would prove valuable
ally in keeping them in che0k,T s1fect
that its enemies, it seems. still do not.
care to admit, but prove it by achRowl-
edeing in part the truth. WhHesfthe
ofcus chalybeus does not pro pagste go
RAPIDLY as does the vedalis, it is evil
IDENTIFY spreading with sufficie rapidity
TO insure good work within the next lew
years, ana if given fair chance 1t will
do for the red ecale what the vedalia has
done ior the white.
sa Regarding the rapidity with W hich
the orcus chalybeus increases, Mr..
| Scott, horticultural commissioner OF Los
Angeles, writes me: 1.-The ladybrds il
Kercheval's orchard have lately in
creased rapidly and soon ought to be
distributed among orchardists who will
take proper care OF them" This rapid
increase has been surprise even to
their friends, and has overwhelmed
their opponents with confusion. Alter
our experience with the vedaila We ex-
pected too much from the orcua, and 1t
was thought that from the lew healthy
specimens which arrived, enough would
be assured to clear the orchards OF the
red scale in few months, and when this
was not done they were liberally de-
nounced as worthless and the hoard as
extravagant. But the orcns has kept
Quietly at work and today stands before
US with the endorsement of come OF the
best informed horticulturists and ento-
mologists of the state as to her value
and capahility. ALExANDEs CRAw,
State Quarantine Officer and Ento'
mologlet.
THAT NEW AUSTRALIAN LADYBIRD.
To THE EDITOR You have doubtless
seen the somewhat sensational report
that has recently been published in re-
lation to the increase of the steel-blue
ladybird, orcus chaly beus, in an orchard
near this city. Neaily year and nal
ago placed about 800 Of these lady lrds
on a lemon tree In the orchard men
toned, the tree being thickly lnresteo
with the red and the black scales. ane
surrounded with other trees similarly
infested. The insects did not thrive
very well the first season. still tnev sue
ceeded in maintaining themselves, ant
passed the winter safely witRole am
other protection than that Afforded py
the trees. At the present writing tner'
are three or four times as many
OF these ladybirds upon the or'gina
tree as placed upon it, and, whl!e Inc.
have not as yet succeeded in ireein!
this one tree of the scale, still their worl
upon the latter is very noticeaole, Ihe,
appear to be very local in their hapits
since during the past year and nal
they have spread to distance OF oni;
about 80 yards from the tree upon whlci
they were originally placed. Even upol
the trees Immediately adjoining tn