214 



THE MONTHLY BT^LLETIN. 



THE MEALY BUG DESTROYER. 



Cryptolcemus montrouzieri Muls. 



(Pigs. 208, 209.) 



General Appearance. — Adults are as large as the ordinary red lady- 

 bird beetle, but decidedly pointed posteriorly. They are black with 

 head, prothorax and posterior fourth of the elytra cinnamon red. The 

 larvte are yellow and covered with long filaments of white flocculence 

 (Fig. 208A). 



Fig. 20S. — Larvse of ladybird beetles. A, Cryptolcemus montrousieri Muls. B, Cryp- 

 togonus orbicnlus Schon. ; C, Scymnus guttulatus Lee. (Essig, P. C. Jr. Ent. ) 



Life History. — The eggs are lemon yellow and deposited early in the 



summer among the egg masses of the 

 mealy bugs. The young prey upon the 

 eggs, young and adults of the host and 

 work great havoc. They are *most 

 plentiful during the months of August 

 and September. The pupal stage is 

 passed within the old larval skin. The 

 adults hibernate over winter. 



Distribution. — Throughout the mealy 

 bug infested districts of the State. This 

 species was introduced into California 

 by Albert Koebele and is redistributed 

 Fig. 209.— Adult female of from time to time bv the State 



Cryptolwmus montrousieri Muls. 



(Essig, P. c. Jr. Ent.) luscctary. 



