277] THE LARVAE OF THE COCCINELLJDAE—GAGE 45 



Hyperaspini 

 The body is ovate and the first to the fourth abdominal segments are 

 widest. The prothorax is wider than long and the caudal margin is longer 

 than the cephalic. The ninth abdominal segment is directed ventrad, 

 wider than long, the tergum very slightly chitinized and provided with a 

 few small setae. The body is usually white or yellow in color. The larvae 

 cover themselves with flocculent masses of wax-like excretion. The body 

 is never provided with scoli, senti, strumae, or verrucae, but is usually 

 armed with setae or small chalazae. In the early larval stages the epi- 

 cranial suture is present, while in the adult larval stages the epicranial 

 suture is wanting. The antennae are short, three-segmented, and slightly 

 setaceous. The mandibles are provided with a slightly developed mola 

 and the apex is never bifurcate. 



Genera of Hyperaspini 



Cephalic margin of the prothorax with setae about as long as the pro- 

 thorax is wide and lateral tergal abdominal setae are about twice as 

 long as the segments bearing them Brachyacantha 



Cephalic margin of the prothorax with setae which are not as long as the 

 prothorax is wide and the lateral tergal abdominal setae are shorter 

 than the segments bearing them Hyperaspis 



Brachyacantha Chevrolat 



This genus is represented by a single species. 



Brachyacantha ursina Fab. — The dorsal portion of the head is slightly 

 chitinized. The head is light yellow in color; the mouth is directed ventrad 

 and slightly cephalad. The body is elongate, widest at the second and 

 third abdominal segments, white to light-cream-colored, usually covered 

 with a flocculent wax-like excretion. The prothorax is one-half as long 

 as wide. The dorsal shield is wanting, but the cephalic margin of the 

 prothorax bears eight setae which are longer than the segment is wide, the 

 lateral margin bears two setae which are also longer than the segment. 

 The lateral aspect is poorly defined and glabrous; the sternum is small 

 and without setae. The mesothorax and metathorax are each about three 

 times as wide as long, are provided with a seta near the lateral margin 

 which is longer than the segment, and the lateral aspects are not well 

 defined. The mesothoracic spiracles are located in the mesocoria near the 

 cephalic margin of the segment, the metathoracic spiracle is wanting or 

 rudimentary. The legs are short and not well developed, rarely extending 

 beyond the sides of the body. Abdominal segments one to eight are 

 similar. The terga are strongly convex, the dorsal and dorso-lateral setae 

 are longer than the segments bearing them, and the spiracles are located 

 near the cephalo-ventral margin of each tergum. The lateral aspect of 

 each segment is provided with two large setae which are not longer than 



