INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



231 



Hosts. — This species preys upon mealy bugs, the young of the 

 armored scales, plant lice, including Aphis gossypii Glover and other 



Fig. 219. — The small brown ladybird beetle, Scymnus sordidus Horn. 

 Larvae at left, enlarged twice; adult female at the right, enlarged ten 

 times. (.Author's illustration, P. C. Jr. Ent. ) 



soft-bodied insects. Large numbers of these ladybird beetles are to 

 be found in the citrus groves of the southern coast counties. 



THE MINUTE BLACK LADYBIRD BEETLE 



Stethorus vagans (Blackburn) 



(Scymnus v<t<j<niH Blackburn) 



(Fig. 220) 



Description. — This is one of the smallest species and 

 is seldom observed by the average orchardist, though 

 often quite abundant upon the trees. The adults are 

 shiny black, oblong and scarcely T ^ inch long. 



Distribution.— This beetle was imported from Aus- 

 tralia by Geo. Compere and is quite generally distrib- 

 uted throughout the southern part of the State. 



Hosts. — The minute black adults may be easily Fig. 220.— The mi- 

 observed feeding upon small mites and red spiders, nute black ladybird 

 They are often abundant in citrus orchards, devour- vagans ' (Biackb.). 

 ing the citrus red spider (Tetranychus mytUaspidis ^ou^'teen* tifnesf 

 Riley), the two-spotted mite (TeiranycUus telarius (Author's mustra- 

 Linn.) and the red spider (Bryobia pratensis Gar- Hor't. com.) 

 man). 



