262 . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The body is naked, whitish, with a few scattered hairs along 

 the sides. The head cannot be seen from above, being covered 

 by the prothorax ; it is rounded oval and free from the pro- 

 thorax beneath, with a few short scattered hairs. It is about 

 half (.50-. 60) an inch long. (Thirty specimens.) 



Of probably somewhat similar habits is the Dacne heros 



(fig. 16, larva and pupa, a 

 upper, h under side of head) , 

 the early stages of which have 

 been communicated to me by 

 Dr. H. Shimer, of Illinois. 

 The grub of an allied species 

 (D. fasciata) found in this 

 State, is said by Candeze to 



Fig. 16.— Lai-va and pupa of Dacne. HvC about NcW OrlcaUS in the 



diseased trunks of the palmetto. It is not known what tree 

 it inhabits in this State. 



BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 



TJie Apis-eating Lady-beetle. — Among the insects which 

 do incalculable benefit to agriculture, are several kiuds which 

 prey almost exclusively upon the Aphis or plant-louse. The 

 Syrphus flies in the maggot state, devour great quantities, 

 and so do the larvce of the lace-winged fly (Chrysopa). 

 Scarcely less valuable aids to the gardener are the young of 

 the "Lady-bird" beetle (Cocinella). During the past sum- 

 mer we have traced the transformations of a species (Psyllo- 

 hora 20-macuIata, Say) which lived in all its stages on the 

 leaves of the horse-chestnut durino^ the month of Augfust. 

 As no aphides were seen on the leaves I am inclined to think 

 that in this instance the food of the young lady-bird was cer- 

 tain freshly-hatched Proci (Coecilius), aphis-like ueuropterous 

 insects which were running about over the leaves, masses of 

 their eggs being attached to the leaves, and as usual covered 

 with a thin web. Indeed some cocinellfe feed on the esfofs and 

 young of their own kind. This lady-bird is a very small beetle, 

 a tenth of an inch long ; pale, whitish yellow, including the legs 

 and antenuse. There are four black spots on the j)rothorax, 

 and nine on each wing-cover, two on each wing-cover usually 

 running together, thus making twenty distinct spots in all. 



