ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 



By looking carefully in April and May, the beetle (fig. 5) can 

 easily be distinguished on the trunks of the trees, with its 

 larva, which is flattened and of a uniform brownish color. & 



Although 6o small and insignificant, it accomplishes Fig ? 5 

 a ereat deal in the destruction of the scale insects. The 

 larvae, hatching in the spring, at the same time with the young 

 scale insects, immediately begin their warfare upon them, which 

 they continue even after they have transformed into beetles. 



It would be difficult to estimate the benefit derived, from these 

 little beetles. After May and June, the majority of them sud- 

 denly disappear;, and we do not see them again until the great 

 fall brood of scales hatch. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Geo. H. Horn, I am enabled to 

 give the following description : 



llYFERASPiDnra ooooimvora, N. S. — Broadly oval, convex, piceouB, shining, 

 each elytron with a large, badly-defined rufous space, which sometimes reaches 

 the side margin and suture. Thorax sparsely, finely punctate. Elytra more 

 coarsely punctured. Body beneath, and legs piceous, shining. Length, .04 inch. 



Thi9 insect resembles some of our smaller Scymnus, but it is entirely without 

 pubescence- It is not larger than Pkntilia pttsilla, and from its resemblance to 

 that insect, excepl in < r, would have been referred to that genus, but there 

 ■ire six nlMloniinal segments. 



