222 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Life History. — The eggs are a little larger than those of Novius 

 koehclci, but are the same color and laid in similar places. The young „ 

 feed upon the eggs and young scales and do great execution. The pupa 

 stage is passed in the larval skin upon the leaves and limbs of the trees. 

 Soon after the adult stage is reached copulation takes place and other 

 broods are brought forth. The great prolificness and appetite of this 

 species enables it to do what no other predator has yet done. 



Distribution. — Throughout the citrus growing sections of the State. 

 Disappears with the host and is constantly being sent out by the State 

 Insectary. Introduced into California by Albert Koebele. 



Hosts. — It feeds entirely upon the eggs and young of the cottony 

 cushion scale (Icerya piirchasi) . To this beetle is accredited the salva- 

 tion of the citrus industry in California, which was threatened with 

 destruction by the above scale. 



KCEBELE'S LADYBIRD BEETLE. 



Novius kachelei Olliff. 

 (Fig. 221.) 



General Appearance. — A very small species being not longer than 

 ■one eighth of an inch ; the males are bright red with dark markings as 

 shown in Fig. 221 ; the females red with dark head, prothorax, and 

 marginal spot near the middle of each wing cover. The larvge are dark 

 red and about one fourth of an inch long. 



Fig. 221. — Koebele's ladybird beetle (Novius krrhelei Olliff). Larvae, pupa and 

 adults at left. Enlarged four times. Adult male at right. Greatly enlarged. (Orig- 

 inal. Drawing of male by Birdnekoff. ) 



Life History. — The small oblong red eggs are deposited by the 

 females on the egg-sacs of the host and hatch within a few days. The 

 young immediately enter the egg-sac and begin feeding upon the eggs 

 and young hatched scales. They pupate within their larval skins on 

 the trees and emerge as adults within a week or more. The adults 

 mate and soon bring forth another brood. The females are very 

 prolific and egg-laying continues throughout the entire spring and 



