202 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Hippodaniia lecontii Mul.s. 

 (Fig. 188.) 



General Appearance. — About the same size and shape as Hippo- 

 daniia convergens. The head is black with a white spot in middle; 



thorax entirely black with lateral 

 and front margins white ; elytra red 

 with one very faint small black and 

 two well defined spots near the 

 base of each — the two spots near 

 the middle front of the elytra often 

 unite with the scutellar spot at the 

 extreme middle base to form an 

 inverted "Y" (Fig. 188). Near 

 the tip of each wing cover there are 

 two spots, the hind one being small, 

 while the other is large and often 

 appears to be two spots united. In 

 some individuals the markings may 

 appear almost identical with those of Hippodamia convergens, but the 

 slender white spots are always lacking on the middle of the prothorax. 



Distribution. — Throughout the entire State, but not abundant. 



Hosts. — Preys principally upon plant lice. 



Fig. 188. — Hippodaniia lecontii Muls 

 (Original. Drawing by Birdnekoff.) 



THE COMMON BLACK-SPOTTED RED LADYBIRD BEETLE. 



Hippodamia convergens Guer. 

 (Fig. 189.) 



General Appearance. — The commonest of all ladybird beetles in this 

 State and easily distinguished by the red color and the twelve black 

 spots on the elytra. The head and thorax are black, the latter with 

 two narrow lateral white margins and a very small medium white spot 

 at the base. 



Life History. — The eggs are salmon-colored and deposited in clusters 

 not unlike bunches of cigars on their ends. The dark larvae 

 soon after emerging search for food, which at first consists of very 

 small insects, such as young scale insects. Full grown larvae are 

 nearly one half inch long and have several reddish or salmon-colored 

 spots on the thoracic segments. The pupa varies from yellow to red- 

 dish with l)lack markings. All stages of the species exist throughout 

 the summer months and may be found almost anywhere. 



■ Distribution. — Throughout the entire State. The species hibernates 

 in great colonies in the high Sierras, from whence it descends into the 

 lowlands as soon as warm weather melts the snow. 



