534 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



small, oval, very shining insects, found in fungi and rotten 

 wood. The elytra are broadly truncate behind, not covering 

 the entire abdomen. 



The family PHALACRID^E (Pha-lac'ri-dae) includes a small 

 number of very small, convex, shining black beetles, which 

 are sometimes two-spotted or tipped with red. They are 

 found on flowers and sometimes under bark. 



The family CORYLOPHID^E (Cor-y-loph'i-dae) includes 

 minute beetles found under damp bark and in decaying 

 vegetable matter. The body is oval or rounded, and in 

 many species is clothed with a grayish pubescence. The 

 wings are wide, and fringed with long hairs. About twenty- 

 five North American species are known. 



Family COCCINELLID>E (Coc-ci-nel'li-dae). 



The Lady-bugs, 



These insects are well known to nearly every child under 

 the popular name given above. They are more or less 

 nearly hemispherical, generally red or yellow, with black 

 spots, or black, with white, red, or yellow spots. 



The larvae occur running about on foliage ; they are 

 often spotted with bright colors and clothed with 

 warts or with spines (Fig. 641). When ready to 

 change to a pupa the larva fastens itself by its tail 

 to any convenient object, and the skin splits open 

 FTG. 6 4 i. on th e bade Sometimes the pupa state is passed 

 within this split skin, and sometimes the skin is forced 

 back and remains in a little wad about the tail (Fig. 

 642). 



With very few exceptions, the lady-bugs are pre- FIG. 6 42 . 

 daceous, both in the larval and adult states. They feed 

 upon small insects and upon the eggs of larger species. 

 The larvae of certain species are known as "niggers" by 

 hop-growers, and are greatly prized by them ; for they are 

 very destructive to the hop-louse. On the Pacific coast the 

 lady-bugs are well known as the most beneficial of all insects 



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