87 



Verania crenata and Halyda galbula are two of the more conspicuous 

 species found in the warmer parts of Australia, and both do good service 

 as destroyers of aphides. Many other useful species might be named, 

 but a complete list would only be suitable for an entomological work. 

 The true Lady-birds have strongly convex backs, and the ground colour- 

 is either red, yellow, or blue. When the ground colour is red or yellow, 

 the spots or markings are generally black if the ground colour is blue, 

 the markings are red or yellow. The insects are prolific, and the females 

 lay their eggs in patches of from twenty to a hundred, on the stems or 

 beneath the leaves of plants, and they generally choose those affected 

 with plant lice or Scale. The eggs are very small, oval, and generally 

 pale yellow, but in some species the colour is deeper. Considering the 

 great service these friendly insects perform for fruit-growers, they 

 deserve to be better known and protected, and their increase and distri- 

 bution should be encouraged in every possible way. 



USEFUL LADY BIRDS. 



* 



Fig. 1. Halyzia galbula (highly magni- 

 fied). IA. Ditto (natural size). 



Fig. 1. Orcus Australasia* (highly mag- 

 nified). IA. Ditto (natural size). 



Fig. 1. YiTiuria fronaia (highly 

 magnified). IA. Ditto (natu- 

 ral size). 



Fig. 2. Pupa enveloped in larval skin 

 (highly magnified), L'\. Ditto (natural 

 size). Fig. 3. Larva' (highly magni- 

 fied). SA. Ditto (natural size). 



