FAMILY CUCUJID.E 



177 



Vedalia. — One species of i)articular interest is the Vcdalla. 

 Tliis was introduced into California for the purpose of con- 

 trolling the cottony-cushion scale and was so efficient in this 

 respect that the scale insect has become of little economic 

 im])ortance. 



Family Cucujidae. — Saw-toothed Beetle. — The family Cucu- 

 jidoe includes, with other pests, the saw-toothed beetle 

 {Sylvanus surmamensis), probably one of the most frequently 

 noticed pests of stored cereal foods, especially those in 

 packages. It is a little, dark red-brown beetle with the 



'^ita^^^ff^ 



Fig. 126. — Adalia bipunctata: a, larva; h, mouth parts of same; c, 

 claw of same; d, pupa; e, adult; /, antenna of same. All enlarged. (From 

 Marlatt, Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Ag.) 



edges of the prothorax strongly toothed. It is found in a 

 great variety of food substances, including breakfast foods, 

 yeast cakes, nuts, and dried fruits. 



All stages of the insect may occur in these substances, 

 the larva being a slender, somewhat flattened creature, the 

 pupa being about the shape of the adult. The adult tunnels 

 through cases or migrates from place to i)lace, depositing its 

 eggs adjacent to the materials in which the lar\{Te will grow. 

 There are probably scNcral generations each year, especially 

 in the food materials that are in warm situations. They 

 should not be ]3resent in fresh-packed cereals, but owing to 

 12 



