LADYBIRD BEETLES. 271 



an aphis on to a needle and placed it under the head 

 of the larva, but it turned aside and would have 

 none of it. It passed by the nearest aphides and 

 just chose its own particular victim. We saw it 

 catch the aphis with its front legs and then began 

 sucking it. This went on till several aphides of 

 varying sizes were devoured. Then it rested awhile. 

 On the 10th of February the ladybird larva was very 

 quiet and would not touch any aphides. Next morn- 

 ing it was in the same position, but had turned a 

 dull brown colour, and there was a distinct white 

 line in the centre of the back from the head to the 

 thorax. After watching it for half an hour it be- 

 gan to move its legs, one at a time. To look at it 

 one would think it was exercising its limbs; but 

 upon close observation through the lens we could 

 see that it was preparing to change its skin. In a 

 few minutes this white line before mentioned gradu- 

 ally opened, beginning at the head and continuing 

 down the thorax. Then the larva swayed from side 

 to side, gradually raising itself till it was free from 

 the old skin. It was at first greyish-looking, but in 

 a few hours became black, and on the 7th segment 

 had a yellow band. After a little time it was as 

 active as ever, looking round for something to de- 

 vour. In the meantime, so effectively was the work 

 of killing the aphides done by the ladybirds on the 

 plant that in a few days there were none left 

 to supply our captives. Previously we had experi- 

 mented with these larvae and reared them on the 

 juice of oranges, on which they flourished. We tried 

 the juices of peach and pear, which were then in 

 season, and this larva seemed in no way put out 



