iS 



FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



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Ladybird (^Mysia lo- 

 'functata, Oliv.) It is 

 the largest of the 

 ladybirds that vce 

 hare, and the only 

 other species of the 

 Family in this coun- 

 try that is larger, is 

 the Northern Squash-beetle (EpilacJma borealis) — a species which has the 

 wing-eorers spotted in a somewhat similar manner, but which I have not 

 yet met with in Missouri. The 15-spotted Ladybii-d is a very variable 

 insect, and at d, e, f and g (Fig. 4), are rejjresented four of the more striking 

 forms. In the more common form the thorax is cream-colored and the 

 wing-covers cream-colored, with a tinge of chocolate. In this form (d) the 

 black spots and marks are conspicuous. In the next form (e) the thorax 

 remains the same, but the wing-covers are chocolate-brown and the black 

 spots are surrounded with a paler brown annulation: In the third form 

 (/) the thorax is a little darker, and the wing-covers so dark that the spots 

 are scarcely percej^tible ; while in the fourth form the whole insect is of a 

 uniform deep brown-black color. 



The larva of this beetle (Fig. 4, a) is jet black, with six rows of long 

 spines and six long black legs. It has a j)aler yellowish stripe along each 

 side, intercepted by two bright orange spots behind the legs, and there is 

 also an orange spot on the back of the flattened first joint (c). I found this 

 black fellow devouring the yoimg potato bugs last May at Allenton, and my 

 friends E. B. Eeed and Wm. Saunders, of London, Ontario, have found the 

 beetle at the same commendable work in Canada. When about to change, 

 this larva fastens itself to the j^lant and changes to a cream-yellow pupa, 

 anarked with black, as at Figure 4, b. 



The Icy Ladybird. — This species (Ifi.ppodcwiia glacialis, Fabr.) which 

 was doubtless so named from occurring so far north, where it is often found 

 wnder ice and snow, has likewise been seen in great numbers carrying on 

 the same commendable work. Figure 5 represents it of the natural size, 

 [Fig. 5.] the wing-covers being of a bright orange-red, each marked behind, 

 with three black sjjots, the two upj^er of which are confluent. The 

 » , head and thorax are black marked with cream-yellow as in the 

 ^ illustration. The sj^ecies is closely allied to the Convergent Lady- 

 bird (differing principally in being nearly twice as large, and in lacking the 

 spots on the anterior portion of the wing-covers), and wnll be found to have 

 similar transformations.* 



The Eing-banded Soldier-bug. — The third of these new friends of the 



•See 1st Rep. Fig. 53. 



