306 



EXPERIMENT STATION— BULLETINS. 



curved and thickly set with short, light-colored hairs. The first two joints 

 are shorter and larger than the others. The succeeding joints are nearly 

 cylindrical, close together, and equal in length, except the last, which is 

 longer, and conical. The abdomen is lanceolate, and all the segments are 

 freely movable on each other, so it can be easily bent beneath the body. The 



venation of the wings (Fig. 3) is simple, and the first 

 discoidal cell is incomplete. We see that this parasite 

 is a Braconid, as shown by the simple venation of the 

 wings. The first discoidal cell is incomplete, the ab- 

 domen is lanceolate, the antennae are sixteen or seven- 

 teen jointed, and the ventral valves in the female are 

 simple ; thus we know it belongs to the genus Ap- 

 hidius. It differs from Fitch's avenaphis (see Fitch's 

 N. Y., Eeport, Vol. 6, p. 98), which we also find here 

 now, though far less in number, as that species has 

 nineteen or twenty joints to the antennae, is honey- 

 yellow instead of brown, the first two joints of the an- 

 tennas and the pedicel of the abdomen, and a spot 

 on the suture, between the second and third joints 

 of the abdomen, are honey-yellow, and not black as in 

 this species. The joints of the antennas are less pedicelated than in avenaphis. 

 If this species is undescribed, A. granariaphis would be a very appropriate 

 name. 



These tiny flies have been a great factor in ridding our fields of the 

 pestiferous lice. Tiny as they are, they will save millions of dollars to the 

 farmers of Michigan and adjacent States during this single year. 



Fig. 3.— Adult female 

 greatly magnified. 



Lady-Bird Beetles. 



These beautiful predaceous beetles are very active and most efficient aids 

 in the work of ridding the grain fields of the aphides. Both as larvas and as 

 mature insects they feed on the plant lice, and rapidly deplete their ranks. 

 The beautiful rounded beetles (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7), usually dressed 

 in yellow or orange — we have one species (Fig. 4) which is black 

 with orange dots — and often adorned with black dots and mark- 

 ings, are known and admired by all, though a few have sent 

 me these beetles, asking if they were the Buffalo carpet beetle, 

 ^i^ady Beetle." Few insects do more good than do these lady-bird beetles. The 

 larvas of these (Fig. 7) are elongated, dark colored insects usually 

 dotted with gray, yellow or orange, according to the species. — 

 The most common one, or at least the one most conspicuous in jf 

 our wheat fields, is Megilla maculata. This one has a 

 broad margin to the first joint back of the head, and two parallel Fig. 5-Yeiiow 

 lines on each side which run from above downward, of bright, Lady Beetle - 

 beautiful orange. So the insect not only does well but looks well. 

 There are also four rows of black dots which extend longitudin- 

 ally, which are easily seen without a glass. Other species of lady- 

 beetle larvae are duller in color, and so less conspicuous, yet 

 equally active and voracious. If any doubt the good work of 

 these insects, especially the larvae, he has but to enclose them 

 d in a box with louse infested wheat heads, or with plant lice 

 Beetle. from any plant. The rapid disappearance of the lice will 



