74 



wVioh in all probibility bolonp;od to the genus " Melanactes" of tlic Elatcr family. " Its 

 general colour, {as wo described at the time in the Canadian Entomohifiisl, vol. 1. page 2) 

 was a dark drub, the posterior angles of each segment, the softer connecting portion between, 

 the segment.s and the under s'de of the body being very much paler, and of a somewhat 

 dirty yellow hue ; on each side thi;rc is a deeply impressed line in whioli the spiracles arc 

 situated. When seen in the dark, the insect presented a very beauliful appearance, being 

 apparently ringed and dotted with greenish lire. Each spiracle appeared to be a point of 

 bright rjroenish light, and the division between each segment a line of the same colour ; it 

 looked indeed as is if the whole insect were filled with fire, which shone out wherever it was 

 not concealed by the dark shelly integument. When coiled up on its side it looked like a 

 lovely Ammonite whose strifeemilted green light,andwilhapoint of green fire in each interspace." 

 All the insects of the Lampyris family, whether luminous or not, may be classed among 

 our friends, as they do not feed ujion our crops or fruits, but upon various worms, snails and 

 insects. One species {Chaulio'matlms PennsylvaniaisJ, a pretty yellow soft winged beetle, 

 with a black oval spot towards the tip of each wing cover, is especially useful from its com- 

 mendable habit of devouring the larvae of the dreaded Plum Curculio, when in the larval 

 state itself 'J he perfect insect we have sometimes taken in great numbers upon thistle blos- 

 soms, towards the close of summer. 



8. Ladt Birds {CodnelUdce.) 



From Luminous Insects to Lady-birds is a long leap to take in our description of neu- 

 tral and beneficial insects. The intervening families of beetles, however, are so addicted to 

 the destruction of our property in one furni or another, and the exceptions are so few and in- 

 conspicuous, that we must pass them all over, and go on to the consideration of the pretty 

 little creatures — as useful too, as they are pretty— that are generally known by the name of 

 "Lady-birds," (vulcrarly called Lcdy-hugs). They bclongto the family Coccincilidceci Coleoptora. 

 • After the Luminous insects (Larrtpj/rklo') which we just now brought before the reader, 

 there come, according to the generally received classification, a large number of most de- 

 structive insects. Of these we may mention the Ptimdce, the species of which " are i'ound in 

 old h()U-;es, in furniture, in rotten palings, stumps of trees, etc., which they and their larvse 

 perforate with round holes in every direction, which are filled with a very fine powder formed 

 of snawed wood and cxcrementa ; some species feed upon collections of dried plants, skins of 

 insects etc; whilst others bore into our chairs, tables, and other woodwork, books, etc. ; 

 other species feed upon almost every substance, devouring ginger, rliubarb, cayenne pepper, 

 etc: and rendering ship-biseuit often unfit lor use; others again feed u] on 

 woollen clothes, wheat in granaries, and other stores,'' — a most noxious family 

 certainly. After them come the ticolijtidce, the members of which are very 

 destructive to tree.-^ and timber ; the CaiUharidm. (Fig. 77,) useful for blister- 

 ing purposes, as ' !?panish flies,' but very injurious to vegetation ; the Curcu- 

 lionidce, (Fig. 78,) one or two well-known species of which are enough to con- 

 demn the whole family, e. g, the Plum Curculio and the Pea-weevil ; the Uer- 

 ambi/cidiT. or Capricorn Beetles, (Fig. 79.) the larvse of which are wood-borers, 

 and attack trees of every kind ; and the ChrijsomelidcK. beautiful golden insects 

 many of them, but including such noxious creatures as the Three-lined po- 

 tato beetle, (Fig. 80,) the Turnip-fly or Flea beetle, the Colorado Beetle, the 

 newly imported Asparagus Beetle, etc, 



The " Lady-birds " be- 

 long to the last family of 

 all of the orders of beetles. 

 They are so common and 

 so well known to every 

 child that it is hardly ne- 

 cessary to give any de- 

 scription of them. The 

 accompanying wood-cuts 

 will sutfice to remind the 

 reader of their appearance. 



(Figs. 81, 82, 83, 84.) 



Colour— Elack 

 and Yellow. 



Fig. 



Fig. 80. 



Colours, 

 Pale Yellow andBl&ck. 



