purslane and foliage of apple trees. Cruciferous plants, including cabbage, turnips, mustard and radishes are favorite foods.

Control. As this bug breeds largely upon wild plants, such as mustard, radish, purslane, etc., clean culture should be practiced to eliminate these food plants. Severe attacks to grapevines and young trees have resulted from allowing such weeds to grow in the orchards.

Soap emulsions and tobacco sprays are excellent remedies. Pyrethrum is also recommended, but is too expensive for large plantings.

THE MINUTE FALSE CHINCH BUG.

Nysius angustatus minutus Uhl. (Family Lygæida).

General Appearance. The appearance of this insect is so much like the false chinch bug that it is commonly believed to be the same species. In fact it is the size that is the main difference, the minute variety being only about half as large (one sixteenth of an inch long). Life History.-Practically the same as for the larger form.

Distribution. Especially abundant in the southern part of the State, though the species occurs in all parts.

Food Plants. The insect is especially destructive to sugar beets grown for seed. In the southern part of the State it works upon many wild plants and occasionally attacks citrus trees after the cover crop has been plowed under. Such attacks are forced, due to the destruction of the native food plants. It has been collected in large numbers on cultivated flowers.

Control. Same as for the false chinch bug.

PARASITA OR ANOPLURA (Suborder).

TRUE LICE.

To this family belong the true lice, which are parasitic upon warmblooded animals, including human beings. A discussion of the various members is of no value to a work of this sort.

NEUROPTERA (Order).

LACE OR NERVE-WINGED INSECTS.

BROWN LACEWING, GREEN LACEWING, ANT-LIONS, CADDIS FLIES, ETC.

The members of this family have quite large membranous wings with lace-like veins. They have complete metamorphosis-the larvæ being entirely different from the pupa and adults. The mouth-parts are for biting. Practically all the insects of this order are beneficial, being predaceous upon other insects.

The larva of many of the families are aquatic in habits but the adults of all species live in the air and upon the land.

The most important and beneficial family is the Chrysopida, but the Hemerobida, Raphidiida and Myrmeleonida are efficient destroyers of many injurious insects.

THE BROWN LACEWING.

Sympherobius angustus Banks (Family Hemerobiidae).

(Figs. 133, 134.)

General Appearance. The general appearance and shape are considerably like the well-known green lacewing, but the wings are not so slender. The ground color is brown with many darker blotches on the wings.

Life History. The eggs are deposited among or near suitable prey and hatch into slate-gray and tan-colored larvæ, which are very active. One very noticeable characteristic is the constant movements of the head when searching for food. When full grown they are nearly one half an inch long. The larvæ spin thick white cocoons, in which to pupate. This requires but a few days or weeks when the adults emerge.

A

B

C

FIG. 133.-The brown lacewing. A, larva; B and C, pupæ in the cocoons. Much enlarged. (Essig, P. C. Jr. Ent.)

Distribution. Throughout the central and southern parts of the

State.

Hosts. Many soft-bodied insects including plant lice and scales. It is a very efficient predator on the young of the citrus mealy bug (Pseudococcus citri).

Natural Enemies.-This insect would be far more useful if it were not in turn preyed upon by a hymenopterous parasite (Isodromus

icerya How.), which works on the pupa in the cocoons. instances fifty to seventy-five per cent are parasitized.

In not a few

152

FIG. 134.-Adult female of the brown lacewing (Sympherobius angustus Banks).

Very much enlarged.

(Essig, P. C. Jr. Ent.)

THE GREEN LACEWING.

Chrysopa californica Coq. (Family Chrysopidae).

(Fig. 135.)

General Appearance. The adult form is well known to all by its delicate green lace wings and long hair-like antennæ. The body is also green with a longitudinal yellow stripe extending the full length on the dorsum, which distinguishes this species from all other forms.

Life History. The eggs are oblong, pearly-white and attached to a fine stalk, which suspends them nearly one half inch in the air. The young vary from one eighth to nearly an inch in length; are yellow

FIG. 135. The green lacewing (Chrysopa californica Coq.). A, larva; B, eggs on the slender stalks; C, cocoon opened; D, cocoon closed; E and F, adult females. (Essig, P. C. Jr. Ent.)

with reddish markings and characterized by their long sickle-like jaws. The larvæ are great feeders upon all small soft-bodied insects and are efficient aphid destroyers. The cocoons are globular and white, being fastened by supporting threads. All forms are abundant in summer and may be found throughout the entire year in the southern part of the State.

Distribution. Throughout the entire State.

Hosts. Preys upon all soft-bodied insects, including plant lice, mealy bugs, young scales, larvæ of many coccinellids and upon all of our common mites. They are also cannibalistic. Their work is usually the destruction of insect pests, but they often do great damage in destroying the larvæ of introduced ladybird beetles. The pupal forms are preyed upon by internal parasites, which keep down their numbers to a considerable degree.

LEPIDOPTERA (Order).

SCALE-WINGED INSECTS.

MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES.

The members of this order are among the most familiar of all insects. Most of the adults have four well developed wings which are characterized by being covered with scales or modified hairs, the arrangement of which is responsible for the varied and beautiful color pattern in so many species. The bodies are covered with fine soft hair. All have complete metamorphosis-the larvæ being known as cut worms, army worms or caterpillars, and the pupæ as chrysalids. The mouthparts of the larvæ are for biting and chewing while those of the adults are abortive or for sucking.

The larvæ of all species are very destructive to plant life and all may be considered injurious with the exception of the silkworm moth, which is of great commercial importance in other countries.

SPHINGIDÆ (Family).

SPHINX OR HAWK MOTHS.

The adult moths of this family are primarily night-flyers, though occasionally one may be seen on dark days. Just before nightfall numbers may also be observed as they begin their night's work. They are among the largest moths, some individuals having a wing expanse of from four to six inches, though the ones discussed here are medium sized.

The caterpillars are very large and robust, being beautifully marked with bright colors, especially with characteristic colored spots around the breathing spiracles, along the sides of the bodies.

The chrysalids or pupa are easily distinguished from all other species by the proboscis which is curved from the head to the body like a pitcher handle.

The caterpillars of all these moths are very harmful. Their great size and ravenous appetites enable them to devour great quantities of vegetation.

General Life History. The winter is passed in the chrysalis stage of the second brood. The adults emerge early in the spring and soon begin egg-laying, the eggs being usually deposited directly upon the leaves, singly or in small groups. These hatch in about a week-the young caterpillars beginning to feed upon the tender foliage first. When full-grown they descend from the plants and either pupate in the earth or among leaves or refuse. There are usually two broods a year the moths of the first brood emerging about the middle of the summer, while those of the second brood do not emerge until the following spring.