INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



225 



KCEBELE'S LADYBIRD BEETLE 

 Novius koebelei (Olliff) 

 ( Vedalia kwbeh i Olliff) 



(Fig. 209) 



Description.— The adults are smaller than those of the Vedalia. 

 being not longer than £ inch; the males are bright red with dark mark- 

 ings, as shown in Fig. 209; the females are red with dark head, pro- 

 thorax, and marginal spot near 

 the middle of each wing cover. 

 Roth sexes are covered with fine, 



Fig. 209. — Koebele's ladybird beetle. Novius kwbelei Olliff. Larva?, pupa and adults 

 at left. Enlarged twice. (Author's illustration, P. C. Jr. Ent). Drawing of adull 

 male at right, greatly enlarged. (Drawing by Birdnekoff, Mo. Bui. Cal. Hort. Com.) 



short hairs. The larva? are dark red and about | inch long. The small, 

 oblong, red eggs are deposited by the females on the egg-sacs of the 

 host and hatch within a few days. The young immediately enter the 

 egg-sac and begin feeding upon the eggs and young hatched scales. 

 They pupate within their larval skins on the trees. 



Distribution.— This beetle is found throughout the citrus-growing 

 sections of the State. It was first introduced by Albert Koebele. 



Hosts.— This species feeds on the cottony cushion scale (Icerya pur- 

 cliasi) and is often more numerous and does greater execution than the 

 Vedalia, for which it is commonly mistaken. 



Lindorus lopanthtis (Blaisdell) 



(Rhizobius lopanthw Blaisdell) 



(Rliizobius toowoombos Blackburn) 



(Fig. 210) 



Description. — The beetles are rather broadly-oval in . shape and 

 about I inch long. The color is bright metallic black or bronze. The 

 head and thorax are reddish-brown with a dark spot at the middle base 

 of the latter. This species is very often confused with Sen minis >»«>'- 

 ginicollis, but may readily be distinguished from it by the lustrous 

 bronze color and the erect hair on the dorsum. The larvre are light- 

 brown in color with an elongated yellow spot on the middle of the back. 



15— 13GG4 



