INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 219 



Distribution. — This species occurs to a limited extent in the more 

 desert parts east of the Sierras in the State. 



Food Plants. — The larva 3 feed principally upon decayed plants and 

 carrion, but also attack living plants, including beets (mangels and 

 sugar), marigolds and grasses. 



Control. — Clean culture and thorough cultivation will usually suf- 

 fice to prevent any serious attacks from this beetle. Fall plowing and 

 the application of poison sprays are also recommended. Control meas- 

 ures, however, are doubtfully profitable for this insect. 



THE GARDEN CARRION BEETLE 



Silpha niiiiD.su Say 131 



i Fig. 195) 



Description. — The beetles are rather broad and decidedly flat, dull 

 black with a velvety sheen. The prothorax, head and body are smooth 

 while the elytra or wing covers are very rough. 

 The eyes are yellow. The length is slightly more 

 than h i ncn and the width about 1 ' , , ; inch. The 

 antennae are short with the apical joints notice- 

 ably enlarged (Pig. 195). The larvae are shiny 

 black, flat and distinctly segmented, the body 

 appearing as if covered with closely joined plates. 

 They are from ■_{ to | inch long. 



Life History. — The life history is practically 

 the same as that of the beet carrion beetle (Silpha 



nnaca Linn ) Fi - 195. — The gar- 



oputa uimi.). den carrion beetle, Sil- 



Nature of Work.— The larvae feed principally {$ka?^§ed. *( e orig- 

 upon decomposed vegetable and animal matter, Lnai) 

 but are thought to attack the roots and foliage of plants, though this 

 is very uncertain. The adults feed almost entirely upon carrion. 



Distribution. — This is a very common beetle throughout the State, 

 especially in damp localities. 



Food Plants.— Various grasses, garden and held crops are said to 

 be attacked by the larva 1 and adults. 



Control. — Control measures are not at all necessary for this insect. 



COCCINELLID^E (Family) 



LADYBIRD BEETLES 



This family of beetles is generally considered one of the most im- 

 portant and beneficial of all the insects. Only one injurious plant- 

 feeding species, Epilachna corrupta Muls., is said to have been found 

 in California, while many other species are particularly noted for 

 their predaceous habits in feeding upon scale insects (Coccidce) and 

 the plant lice ( Aph ididce) . 



Eggs. — The egos y,wy considerably with the different members of 

 the family and are seldom if ever observed. Those most conspicuous 



'"Another carrion bettle, Silpha lapponica Host., is very common tn the southern 



part of the State. It is much smaller than Sili>h<t ramosa and is easily distinguished 

 by the fine yellow hair which completely hides the dorsum of the prothorax. 



