Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, on almost every kind of plant; but the first announcement of its appearance in New Zealand was in 1895, when Captain Broun found it on olive trees at Whangarei. Later the Agricultural Department reported it as occurring on various species of Citrus, and on Camellia. The species, which is cosmopolitan in its distribution, is now common and very troublesome in the northern parts of New Zealand.

Coccus maculatus, Signoret (Lecanium maculatum)

This European species was reported by Mr Maskell in 1878, as occurring on Bouvardia in a greenhouse in Christchurch. I do not know that it has been recorded since.

Coccus mori, Signoret (Lecanium mori)

Taken by Mr Maskell on Alsophila and other plants in the Botanical Gardens, Wellington, in 1884; and in 1893 on Asplenium and other ferns. In 1895 it was found to be plentiful on gorse (Ulex europæus) and broom (Spartium or Genista) at Fairlie in South Canterbury. (The latter is probably Cytisus scoparius.)

Coccus longulus, Douglas (Lecanium longulum, Douglas;

L. chirimolia, Maskell)

In 1889 Mr Maskell recorded this species from Fiji, where it was found on the bark and leaves of the Peruvian Cherimoyer (Anona tripetala). In 1896 he states:

This insect has come to New Zealand. Captain Broun sent me specimens on Laurus, from Northcote, near Auckland. It has evidently been imported from Fiji, between which place and New Zealand there is a rapidly-growing trade in fruit, etc.

Coccus hesperidus, Linn. (Lecanium hesperidum, Blanch).

Broad Scale; Holly Scale; Ivy Scale

In 1878 Mr Maskell wrote: "This insect is becoming a veritable pest in this country. Hollies, ivies, Portugal laurels, and many other trees in our gardens are every year becoming more and more infested with it." In 1887 he added Camellia, orange, myrtle, box, etc., and stated: "this is the commonest of the Lecanidæ in this country." It is also found on oranges, gooseberries, and occasionally on grape

vines.

In 1888-89 Dr Jas. Hudson recorded this species (under the name of Lecanium hispidum) as occurring on orange and lemon trees in Nelson, and badly infesting the trees. In February, 1890, he observed Rhizobius ventralis preying on the Coccid; and in January, 1891, he

stated that both the blight and the ladybird had completely disappeared.

It is kept in check to some extent by a parasitic fly, and by an undetermined species of fungus.

Coccus persica, Geoffroy

In 1891 Mr Maskell recorded this species, or a variety of it, as occurring on grape-vines at Ashburton, under the name of Lecanium rosarum, Snell.

Coccus persica, var. coryli, Linn. (Lecanium ribis, Fitch)

This species was recorded in 1890 by Mr Maskell, who received specimens from Ashburton, from Mr W. W. Smith. At that date it was common in gardens on gooseberries, black and red currants. In the following year he noted its occurrence from various places in Canterbury, and from Oamaru, and added: "the pest is a new arrival in the colony within the last three or four years, and seems to be spreading rapidly."

Saissetia nigra, Neitner (Lecanium nigrum, L. depressum)

This was recorded in 1878 by Mr Maskell, as occurring on greenhouse plants in Christchurch and Wellington.

Saissetia olea, Bernard (Lecanium oleæ).

"Black Scale" of California

Reported in 1884 by Mr Maskell as becoming very common throughout New Zealand, especially in the North Island. It occurs on many plants in gardens and orchards. He found it abundant on Cassinia leptophylla, a native composite shrub which covers the hills near Wellington; and it was reported also to be spreading on native trees near Whangarei. A very widespread species.

Saissetia hemispherica, Targioni-Tozzetti (Lecanium
hemisphericum, L. hibernaculorum, Boisd.)

This European species was stated by Mr Maskell in 1878, to be common in greenhouses in Christchurch. In 1884 he found it on Camellia in the Hutt Valley, Wellington.

Pulvinaria floccifera, Westwood (P. camellicola, Signoret)

In 1878 Mr Maskell recorded this species as occurring on Camellia in Christchurch and Wellington, and in greenhouses in the south.

Asterolecanium variolosum, Ratzeburg (Planchonia

quercicola, Bouché

In 1895 Mr R. I. Kingsley sent to Mr Maskell from Nelson twigs of oak thickly covered with this coccid, and he stated that "the owner first noticed the blight about fourteen years ago."

Pseudococcus longispinus, Targioni-Tozzetti (Dactylopius
adonidum, Signoret). Mealy Bug

What I think was certainly this species was abundant in a vinery in Auckland in 1884; it was also reported from Whangarei. It was not recorded, however, until 1889, when Mr Maskell stated that it occurred in the hot-houses and stoves of Government House, Wellington. In 1895 Mr Maskell mentioned an outbreak of this pest in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington. In the following year Captain Broun reported that it had proved a terrible nuisance in some of the northern vineries; at Tauranga it was most abundant on passionvines (Passiflora sp.). It was also found commonly on many fruit

trees.

The Agricultural Department introduced the black ladybird (Rhizobius ventralis), the steely-blue ladybird (Orchus chalybeus), and the red-headed ladybird (Cryptolamus montrouzeri), specially to combat this dangerous pest.

Pseudococcus coriaceus, Maskell (Eriococcus coriaceus).

Blue-Gum Scale

First noticed about Timaru in 1900, having been introduced from Australia, partly among young gum trees, and partly by hardwood logs. It has been detected within recent years as being brought in in both ways. It was originally described by Mr Maskell in 1892 from specimens sent to him from New South Wales. About 1900 plantations of gums (Eucalyptus globulus and E. stuartiana chiefly) were attacked by this scale insect, and trees 40 to 80 feet in height were completely killed. It soon spread over S. Canterbury and North Otago, and threatened to destroy all the gum trees in the country (including E. gunnii, E. amygdalina, E. regnans, and E. coccifera). Later on it was found infesting European myrtle (Myrtus communis).

A number of black ladybirds (Rhizobius ventralis), red-headed ladybirds (Cryptolamus montrouzeri), and steely-blue ladybirds (Orchus chalybeus) were brought from North of Auckland, where they had been introduced some years previously, and were liberated near Timaru. The two last-named species could not stand the winter of S. Canterbury, but the Rhizobius increased rapidly and very soon

cleared the trees of scale. By the winter of 1907 nearly all the affected plantations were stocked with ladybirds. Mr T. W. Kirk said in 1908:

In January of this year my assistant collected at Rolleston over 1300 on ten gum trees in a little over three hours.... Three years ago the plantations were swarming with the pest and to all appearances were doomed to utter destruction. It is not too much to say that within another twelve months there will scarcely be a single living scale to be found on the southern plantations.

Eriococcus araucaria, Maskell

Mr Maskell described this species from specimens found on Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria excelsa) at Governor's Bay, near Lyttelton, in 1878. It is found on the same tree and on the Moreton Bay pine (A. Bidwillii) in the North of Auckland district. The species has been found both in Spain and in America, and is almost certainly an introduction. It is apparently held in check in New Zealand by the introduced ladybirds.

Dactylopius coccus, Costa (Coccus cacti). Cochineal Insect

Apparently two attempts, both unsuccessful, have been made to naturalise the cochineal insect in New Zealand. Mr Jas. Drummond states that it was introduced by Mr Walter Brodie into Mangonui about 1847. The Canterbury Society received a number of these insects in a case of food-plants, from Sir Geo. Grey, in 1868. The climate of New Zealand is too cold for this species.

Icerya purchasi, Maskell. Cottony-cushion Scale

This species was described by Mr Maskell in 1878 from specimens sent to him by the Rev. Dr Purchas, who first found it, in Auckland, where it had nearly destroyed a hedge of the Kangaroo Acacia (A. armata). Writing in 1883, Mr Maskell said:

Icerya purchasi has spread greatly in the last two years. It had just reached Napier at the date of my last paper; it has now established itself in that district, not only in gardens but in the native forests. In Auckland it is attacking all sorts of plants, from apple trees and roses to pines, cypresses and gorse, and it is spreading over a large district. It has reached Nelson ...where it is devouring wattles, cypresses, gorse, and many other plants. Mr Maskell made every effort to rouse public attention to the danger arising from this dreaded pest. Fortunately the Agricultural Department awoke to the importance of meeting the problem, and by the introduction of the Australian ladybird (Vedalia cardinalis), this scale is now kept in check and rapidly destroyed wherever it is met with.

T. N. Z.

22

Chatococcus parvus, Maskell (Cryptococcus nudata, Brittin)

This species was found on Hoheria at Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, by Mr G. Brittin, and described as a new species, in 1914. It was later found to be a species which Mr Maskell had described in 1897, as feeding on wild plums in China. In 1914 it was reported by Mr Green as occurring at St Albans, Herts, England, on cherry trees which had been imported from Japan.

Sub-order ANOPLURA

Family PEDICULIDÆ

Pediculus capitis, Nitzsch. Common Louse

Sir Joseph Banks, describing the Maoris shortly after he first met them in 1769, says: "In their hair was much oil, which had very little smell, but more lice than ever I saw before1."

Very common in New Zealand.

Pediculus corporis, De Geer (P. vestimenti, Nitzsch). Body Louse

Equally common with the preceding species. Mr Howes says, what is perfectly correct, that both species are becoming scarcer. The segregation of children in schools formerly tended to spread these offensive insects, but closer inspection in later years has very much reduced the pest.

Phthirius inguinalis (Pediculus pubis). Crab Louse

Mr Elsdon Best writing in June, says: "The Maori carried two forms of louse, the body louse (Kutu), and a form called the Werau that, he says, infests the aroaro (private parts) only. Both are said to have been pre-European."

I think it more probable that this parasite was introduced by Europeans from the earliest days when they had connection with Maori women. Banks says:

Though we were in several of their towns, where young and old crowded to see us, actuated by the same curiosity as made us desirous of seeing them, I do not remember a single instance of a person distempered in any degree that came under my inspection, and among the numbers of them that I have seen naked, I have never seen an eruption on the skin or any signs of one, scars or otherwise. Their skins, when they came off to us in their canoes, were often marked in patches with a little floury appearance, which at first deceived us, but we afterwards found that it was owing to

1 In another passage Banks says: "the disgustful thing about them is the oil with which they daub their hair, smelling something like a Greenland dock when they are 'trying' whale blubber. This is melted from the fat either of fish or birds. The better sort indeed have it fresh, and then it is entirely void of smell."