THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



201 



*THE STRIPED LADYBIRD BEETLE. 



Paranwmia vittigera (Maun.). 



{McgUla vittigera Mann.) 



(Fig. 186.) 



General Appearance. — The adult beetles vary from a straw or light 

 pink to almost bronze and have 

 three broad, longitudinal, black 

 stripes on the back, dark head, and 

 two black blotches on the prothorax. 



Distribution. — The adults hiber- 

 nate in quite large colonies and are 

 found in most parts of the State, 

 and especially in the southern part. 

 They seem to prefer damp places 

 and are usually common in sugar 

 beet fields. At Oxnard, California, 

 the writer found this species in 

 great numbers. 



Hosts. — Feed upon root lice, 

 such as the beet louse {Pampliigus 

 hetce), and other soft-bodied insects. 



Fig. 186. — The striped ladybird beetle, 

 Paranwmia vittigera (Mann.). (Origi- 

 nal. DraAving by Birdnekoff. ) 



Hippodamia 5-signata Kirby. 

 (Fig. 187.) 



General Appearance. — The adult beetles are slightly more than 

 three sixteenths of an inch long 

 and rather robust. The head is 

 black with white front and margins ; 

 thorax black with white margins 

 and sometimes two white spots near 

 the middle; elytra, or wing covers, 

 yellow or red with a broad black 

 band extending nearly across the 

 base, a wide black band behind the 

 middle and a black spot near the 

 tip of each. There is sometimes a 

 very small black spot near the mar- 



. " , 1 J, 1 . Fig. 187. — Hippodamia 5-signata 



gm and base of each wmg cover. Kirby. (Original. Drawing by Bird- 



The body proper and legs are black. 'i«*koff.) 



Distribution. — Especially abundant in the northern part of the State, 

 but is also found in all other sections, though only in limited numbers. 



Hosts. — Prey particularly upon j)lant lice. 



*Tlie writer is indebted to Mr. F. W. Nunenmacher for the correct naming of these 

 species. 



