FOES AND FRIENDS OF THE PLANT 197 



If you look at plants which are covered with plant 

 lice, you often see small, soft, wormlike insects, which 

 you are apt to think are feeding on the plant. But if 

 you watch carefully enough, you will see that they are 



FIG. 112. At the top a ladybird larva is seen eating a mealy bug half its 

 size. Another mealy bug is seen a little lower down on the same twig. 

 (Enlarged.) 



feeding on the plant lice and destroying them. These 

 are the larvas of ladybirds. They also feed on scale 

 insects. After a time they become ladybirds and fly 

 away to other plants. 



Diabrotica and striped beetle. Figure 113 shows a 

 beetle which is sometimes mistaken for a ladybird. 



