INSECTA MADERENSIA. 467 



Coccinella marginalis, Eossi, Mant. Ins. ii. 87 (1794). 



morio, Fab. Syst. Eleu. i. 380 (1801). 



marginalis, Gryll. Lis. Siiec. iv. 199 (1827). 



Scymnus marginalis, Mulsant, Securip. de France, 244 (1846). 



Habitat Maderam australem, in vinetis prope Funchal, testate vulgaris : in ipsa urbe interdum 

 abundat, qua super plantas Tamiii edulis (anglice " Yam ") iu borto Ecclesise Anglicana; crescentes 

 mense Augusto a.d. 1850 copiosissime observavi. 



S. black, and pubescent. Elytra with a large distinct triangular patcb on eacb (the base of which 

 extends from the humeral angle almost to the centre of the lateral margin, and the ape.x to about 

 two-thirds of the distance to the suture) bright rufous. Antenna, upper lip, tibia and tarsi 

 testaceous. 



Male, rather smaller than the female ; with the head, the sides of the prothorax (especially about the 

 anterior angles), and the entire legs, rufo-testaceous. 



Female, with the head and prothorax entirely black (except a very narrow and minute portion, some- 

 times scarcely perceptible, of the anterior margin of the latter immediately within either angle, 

 which is testaceous): and with the femora, except at their apex, black. 



Var. j3. with the rufous patch of either elytron (in both sexes) suffused behind, so as to cover almost 

 the entire surface to the apex, — the suture and a large triangular portion about the scutellum being 

 alone dark. (The head and prothorax with the same sexual distinctions as in the normal state.) 



An exceedingly variable species ; though easily recognised from the last one, in 

 all its phases, by its smaller size, somewhat less densely pubescent surface, and by 

 its different prothorax, — which appears to retain its peculiarity of colouring for 

 each sex constant, even whilst the patches of its elytra become suffused. In its 

 normal state, the large and distinct triangular red spot which arises immediately 

 below either shoulder will at once suffice to identify it : and even in the paler 

 specimens there is never any indication of the four blotches which are amongst 

 the most essential characteristics of the S. Durantce. Whilst that insect appears 

 to be most abundant in the north of the island, the S. marginalis is more particu- 

 larly attached to the south, — where it occurs in cultivated places in and around 

 Funchal, at times in considerable profusion. Like the S. Di(rantcc, it attains its 

 maximtim during the summer months ; nevertheless I have taken it sparingly, in 

 the vineyard of the Quinta d'Ambrosio, throughout the winter and spring. As 

 the season however advances it grows more plentiful ; until, about the beginning 

 of August, in certain positions it may be literally said to teem. In the garden of 

 the EngUsh Church, in the Beco das Aranhas, I ,have observed it to be much 

 attached to the leaves of the Tamnus edulis (more commonly known, in Madeira, 

 as the " Yam"). It is found in nearly all parts of central and southern Europe; 

 and is recorded by M. Lucas in Algeria. 



359. Scymnus arcuatus. 



S. bi-unneo-niger, prothorace vel onmino vel ad latera sola pallido, elytris pallido-biarcuatis (arcubus 



interdum confluentibus), antennis pedibusque pallidis. 



3o2 



