588 Keport of Entomologists of the 



insects on infested plum trees during the winter of 1891-5. All of 

 these species are probably predaceous upon the plum scales and 

 hence aid in reducing tlieir numbers. One of these species at least 

 belongs to the genus Sinea. We endeavored to rear some of these 

 insects in the laboratory, but through an accident failed to bring 

 them to maturity or to prove that they would attack the plum 

 scale. They belong, however, to the Reduviidce, a family of insects 

 the members of which, Professor Comstock states, "are pre- 

 eminently predaceous upon their fellows." These insects have long 

 legs and can move about qnite rapidly. They are also provided 

 with long sharp beaks with which they suck the blood of their 

 victims. 



The Twice-stabbed Lady-bird Beetle, Chilocorus hevulne7'is, is 

 another predaceous insect which attacks the plum scale. This insect, 

 as its name implies, belongs to the well-known family of lady-bird 

 beetles. They were very abundant on infested plum trees last sum- 

 mer and the summer previous. They may also be found hibernat- 

 ing on the trees. 



Their spiny larval skins may also be found on the trunks and 

 branches of the trees. They w^ere v^-y abundant last winter in in- 

 fested plum orchards at Hector and Geneva, and were frequently 

 observed in groups of from less than a hundred to two or three 

 hundred. 



Plate YI, Fig. 1, is from a photograph of some of these spiny 

 skins from which the beetles have emerged. At Plate VI, Fig. 2 «, 

 one of tlie spiny skins from which the beetle has emerged is 

 represented natural size, and at 1) one of the beetles. Both are 

 greatly enlarged, the hair lines at the right showing the true 

 lengths. The beetles are nearly as broad as long, decidedly oval, 

 and about the size of a fully matured female plum scale. They are 

 shining black in color and each wing cover is marked with a 

 red spot. 



The larvse of these beetles also feed upon the scales. They are 

 peculiar spiny creatures and may be found in the spring and 

 summer. 



Hyjyeraspis signata is another species of lady- bird beetles, or 

 Coccinellidm as they are scientitically known, which we have found 

 upon infested plum trees, although in much smaller numbers than 

 the previous species. They are also much smaller than this species 

 but are black and similarly marked. 



