212 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



General Appearance. 



Aj'ion phif/iatiis Oliv. 



(Fig. 204.) 

 The aclnlt beetles are quite large, attaining 

 one fourth of an inch in length and nearly 

 that much in width. The shape is broadly 

 oval and convex, being almost hemis- 

 pherical ; color, shining black throughout 

 with two large red blotches nearly covering 

 the basal halves of the wdng covers. These 

 spots are smaller on the males. The apical 

 margins of the pronotum are pale. 



Distribution. — Apparently limited to the 

 southern part of the State. 



Hosts. — Feeds upon young black scale 

 and other young scale insects. 



Fig. 20L — Axion plagia- 

 Uts Oliv. (After Quayle 

 Courtesy Cal. Exp. Sta.) 



PILATE'S LADYBIRD BEETLE. 



Awian pilatii Muls. 



{Exnchomns pilatii Muls.) 



(Fig. 205.) 



General Appearance. — The adult beetles resemble the two-stabbed 



and also the eyed ladybird, but are 

 larger than the former and have smaller 

 and darker red spots than the latter. They 

 also differ from the two-stabbed ladybird 

 beetle by having the under extremity of 

 the abdomen black instead of red. The 

 larvfe are larger and lighter than the 

 young of the two-stabbed beetle but other- 

 wise greatly resemble them. 



Distribution. — Occurs in limited num- 

 bers in the southern part of the State. 



Hosts. — Feeds upQu scale insects — young black scale seeming to be 

 preferred. 



Fig. 2 05. — Pilate's ladybird 

 beetle, Axion pilatii Muls. 

 Enlarged and natural size. 

 (Cal. Hort. Com.) 



Exochomus californiciis Casey. 

 (Fig. 206.) 



General Appearance. — The adult beetles are broadly oval, convex in 

 shape and about three sixteenths of an inch long. The color is shiny 

 black with a long reddish spot at the marginal base and a rounded 

 spot of the same color near the tip of each wing cover. 



