COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS PREYING UPON BARK-LICE. 75 



The Scale-devoi^rinCt IIyperaspidius {Hyperasjndins coccidivorus 

 Ashmead ; Plate V, ¥'i<^. li ; «, larva; &, head of larva mucli enlarged; 

 c, part of side margin of the head, showing antenna and ocelli ; d, bee- 

 tle.) — Altlfough on account of its small size this little beetle has been 

 generally overlooked, it is probably the most useful of its family as a de- 

 stroyer of Bark-lice. It attacks principally the Chaff Scale [Parlatoria 

 pergandii), and lives in colonies upon the trunks and branches of orange 

 trees infested with this scale. Both the perfect beetle and its larva 

 bus3' themselves without ceasing in emptying the scales of their con- 

 tents, and many instances have been observed of trees ultimately cleared 

 of Cliaff Scale through their persistent efforts. 



The larva is 1.8""" (y^ inch) in length ; body dark purple, covered 

 with minute pubescence having a silver-gray retlection : the head and 

 legs black. 



The pupa has the color of the larva, and the form, in outline, of the 

 l)erfect beetle. 



The imago is broadly oval, shining black, with a badly-defined red 

 spot upon each wing-case. Length, 1"'™ (y^y inch). 



The strength of the little insect is apparently not sufficient to pene- 

 trate the hard scales of some of the Diasijinaj; it is not often seen to 

 attack either the LoTi g Scale {M. gloverii) or the Purple Scale {^[. cifHcola), 

 but appears most fre(juently upon trees infested with Chaff" Scale {P.per- 

 gandii). Even here it does not seem able to bite through the upper 

 shell, but inserts its thin, wedge-shaped head and jaws between the 

 Scale-insect and the bark and eats into it from below. The perfect in- 

 sect, and to some extent the larva also, devour the young of any species 

 of Bark-louse, but have not been observed to attack Aphis or any other 

 insect. 



The young hatch in spring, from eggs laid in patches among the 

 scales. 



Bpitragus tomentosus; family Tenehrionidw. (Fig. 30.) — Tiiis is 

 about half an inch in length, regularly oval in form, and convex above. 

 The body is dark brown, densely sprinkled with ash- 

 gray pubescence. The habits of the perfect insect are 

 similar to those of the Lady-birds, and it is very com 

 monly found upon orange trees, engaged in feeding up- 

 on Scale-insects of all kinds. It tears the scale from 

 the bark and devours the contents, and sometimes the 

 substance of the scales also. Its early history is un- 

 known, but the larva probably lives upon the ground 

 among oak leaves. The beetle is also found abundantly 

 upon scrubby oaks, where it feeds also upon Bark-lice. 



Mulching the trees with oak leaves is very certain to TommioVus.^'^ [oi^g- 

 attract these beetles, and they do good service in '""'^ 

 checking the increase of Scale-insects, although they are seldom x)res- 

 ent in Guflficient numbers to eftectually clean the trees. 



