USEFUL COLEOPTERA. 183 



destroys the larvae of bark-beetles, such as Xyleborus dryo- 

 graphus, Er., etc. 



The Colydiidae and the closely-allied Cucujidae, many of 

 which have similar habits, are as a rule very rare in Great 

 Britain and therefore of little local economic value. 



7. Coccinellidae, 



or Ladybirds, are small, smooth, hemispherical beetles, with 

 red or yellow elytra, spotted with black. Antennae very short, 

 clubbed, 10 11-jointed. Tarsi 3-jointed. Abdomen of five 

 free segments. 



The larvae are long and pointed behind, therefore somewhat 

 lizard-like in shape ; they possess six legs, and are covered with 

 warty tubercles, pits, or spines. Those of the commonest species 

 are slaty-grey, with four or six yellow spots. The beetles fly 

 in the spring, and lay their yellow eggs in clusters on plants. 

 The larvae pupate in July and August, hanging from the leaves; 

 in 14 days the beetles appear, and they pass the winter under 

 dead leaves, bark, etc. Both in the larval and perfect states, 

 and especially in the former, they eagerly hunt and kill num- 

 bers of plant-lice or aphides, and mites, which do much mischief 

 to fruit and forest trees. 



Ladybirds are migratory when abundant, and sometimes 

 appear in certain localities in enormous numbers. The com- 

 monest species are : C. septempunctata, L., the 7-spotted lady- 

 bird, and A. Upunctata, L., the 2-spotted ladybird. Certain 

 species are found only in forests, as Halyzia ocellata, L., chiefly 

 on pines, H. octodecimguttata, L., on spruce. Scymnus, Kugel., 

 lives chiefly in coniferous woods. 



8. Malacodermata. 



This group of families is characterised as follows : Beetles 

 generally long, with soft flexible elytra. Antennae slender, 

 10 12-jointed. Tarsi 5-jointed. Abdomen of 6 7 free seg- 

 ments. The females sometimes resemble larvae. Larvae long, 

 flat, and generally hairy, with six legs. 



The predaceous families included in this group are: the 

 Telephoridae, black, brown, or yellowish beetles, about half 



