228 



[NJUftlOUS AM) BENEFICIAL INSKCI'S <>F CALIFORNIA. 



They seem to prefer damp places and are usually common in sugar 

 beet fields. At Oxnard, California, the writer found this beetle in 

 greal numbers. 

 Hosts.— This species feeds upon root lice, like the beet root aphis 

 Pemphigus beta ) and other soft-bodied insects. 



THE SMALL GRAY LADYBIRD BEETLE 

 Psyllobora twdata Lcconte 



(Fig. 214) 



Description. — The adults vary from light cream-color to gray and 

 are mottled with fine irregular brown spots, giving a salt and pepper 



effect. They are oblong and very 

 small, scarcely exceeding J? inch in 

 length. The larvae are light gray 

 or straw-colored and about § inch 

 long. All stages are exceedingly 

 active. 



Distribution. —This is a native 

 species common throughout the en- 

 tire State. 



Hosts. — The young and adults 

 feed upon young coccids and espe- 

 cially upon mites, and may be 

 found in great numbers in the 

 citrus orchards in the southern 

 part of the State. Mr. Geo. P. 

 Wei don observed the beetles de- 

 vouring the red spider in the apple 

 orchards of Humboldt County. 



Fig. 214. — The small gray ladybird 

 beetle, Psyllobora tcedata Lee. Enlarged 

 Ihree times. Specimens collected at Ven- 

 tura by S. H. Essig. (Original) 



