512 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Fig. 613. 



has been incorrectly known as Veddlia cardindlis, has proved of very 

 great value in subduing the cottony -cushion scale {Icerya purckasi). 

 This lady-bug was introduced from Australia. 



The larva of BracJiyacantha is found in the nests of ants. It is 

 covered with dense tufts of delicate white wax; its food probably 

 consists of the eggs of coccids living in the nests. 



A very common lady-bug in the East is Addlia hipunctdta. This 

 species is reddish yellow above, with the middle of the prothorax 

 black, and with a black spot on each wing-cover. It frequently 

 passes the winter in our dwellings, and is found on the walls and 

 windows in early spring. Under such circimistances it is often mis- 

 taken for the carpet -beetle, and, unfortunately, destroyed. 



The nine-spotted lady-bug, Coccinella novemnotdta, has yellowish 

 wing-covers, with four black spots on each, in addition 

 to a common spot just back of the scutellum (Fig. 613). 

 Although almost all of the Coccinellidae are predacious, 

 there are some that are herbivorous. One of these is 

 found in the East. This is the squash -ladybird, Epildchna 

 horedlis. This beetle and its larva (Fig. 614) feed on the foliage of 

 various cucurbitaceous plants, but prefer that of the squash. The 



adult is yellow- 

 ish, with large, 

 black spots. The 

 larva is yellow 

 and is clothed 

 with forked 

 spines. A pupa 

 is shown in the 

 figure near the 

 upper right-hand 

 corner. 



The bean- 

 lady bug, Epi- 

 ldchna corriipta, 

 which is found in 

 the South and 

 Southwest, is an- 

 other herbivo- 

 rous species. 



The family 

 ALLECULI- 

 D^, or the 



comb-clawed bark-beetles, includes brownish beetles, without spots, 

 which are found on leaves and flowers and under bark. The body is 

 usually elongate, elliptical, quite convex, and clothed above with 

 minute hairs, which give a silken gloss to the surface. They are most 

 easily distinguished from allied families by the tarsal claws being 

 pectinate, and the anterior coxal cavities closed behind. The larvae 

 of some of our species at least live in rotten wood and resemble wire- 



Fig. 614. 



