59 



ently exterminated. In this State we have a number of ladybiigs Ijelong- 

 ing to the genus CoccineUa and Hippodamia. These, as a general thing, 

 feed on aphis of all kind in their larval state, hut are also very active in the 

 imago state feeding on woolly aphis. 



The Chilocorus has been referred to and the figure shows it in its various 

 stages from larva to imago. The chrysalis shows the characteristic appear- 

 ance of most ladybugs. The Chilocorus bivulneris is the most common 

 species, having been observed from Shasta to San Diego. Preying on the 

 native scales of the woods, it has gradually extended its operations to the 

 orchards, and is met with in nearly every infested district and has proba- 

 bly done more good than any other species, unless it should be its modest 

 and obscure little cousin, the brown-necked lady bug, to which we draw 

 special attention. 



THE BROWN-NECKED LADYBUG. (Figure No. 45.) 



Scymnus Ma rgi nicollis. 



From time to time attention of entomologists has been 

 drawn to the members of the genus which all seem to have 

 y proved themselves very useful in preying on various scale in- 

 ^ sects, and even on phylloxera. In California the species fig- 

 ured above, Scymnus marginicollis, is quite common. In an 



Figure -15. articlc in the ''Pacific Fruit Grower," Mr. D. W. Coquillett 

 proposes the name brown-necked ladybug, and speaks of the larva having 

 been found by Mr. A. S. Chapman and I on his place at San Gabriel feed- 

 ing on the eggs of Icerya purchasi. 



The larvas of the species are of the usual form of ladybug larva\ The 

 body is of yellowish-gray color, thickly covered with a white, mealy powder, 

 which is gradually rubbed off, and with a covering of white matted hair: 

 their heads are of a pale yellow color. They pass through the chrj^salis 

 form in about a week, and appear as fully developed ladybugs. Its head 

 and throat are reddish brown. The wing cases are black, but covered with 

 peculiar whitish hair, which are turned in the manner shown in figures. 

 In the summer time, especially in a dusty country, fine particles of dust 

 adhere to these and gives the insect a gray color so closely resembling the 

 bark that they can only be noticed by looking very sharp for them. 



I have often heard it stated that much damage has been done by the 

 ladybug, and have indeed often seen them helping the diabrotica to devour 

 overripe fruit and eating up the squash vines. It should be remembered by 

 those people who have complained bitterly over the harm done by them, 

 that were it not for their presence there would have been no squash vines 

 to eat and no leaves or fruit on the trees, as the aphis would have destroyed 

 them. As a general thing little damage is done by the ladybug as com- 

 pared with the good it does, as it is only ripe fruit that suffers. 



LACE-WING FLY (Figure No. 46). 



Chrysopa Species. 



The engraving (Figure 47) shows the larva of this useful insect, which 

 has been called aphis lion, on account of its great appetite for these insects. 

 It is of grayish color, banded with white. The eggs are very conspicuous, 

 planted as they were on a long stalk, resembling certain kinds of mold. 

 The adult insect is delicate looking, with large transparent wings, large 



