1 66 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



which is infested with aphides, in a day or two not an 

 aphis will be left. 



Especially is the Lady-bird useful in those parts 

 of the country where hops are grown. There is an 

 aphis which feeds especially upon this plant, and 

 which has been known to destroy whole plantations 

 in a single season, causing the greatest distress among 

 the multitudes whose living depends more or less 

 directly upon the hop. Fortunately, the Lady-bird 

 usually the little TWO-SPOT LADY-BIRD (Coccinella 

 bipunctatd] comes to the rescue, and follows the 

 aphides wherever they are most plentiful. The mother 

 insect lays her eggs in packets among the aphides, 

 and, as soon as the young larvae are able to move 

 about, they begin to feed upon the insects near where 

 they have been placed. 



In some seasons the swarms of Lady-birds almost 

 exceed belief. I have seen the streets absolutely red 

 with them, and the houses covered with their multi- 

 tudes, while within doors a thick band of Lady-birds 

 ran along the angle of the walls and ceiling like a red 

 cable, large bunches hanging in each corner. These 

 insects very well illustrated the adage that 'dirt is 

 only matter in the wrong place.' Nothing could be 

 more beneficial than their presence in the locality, as 

 it was situated in the very midst of hop gardens, and 

 by their means the year's harvest was saved from 

 destruction. But, though they were much wanted out 

 of doors, they were not at all wanted inside the house, 

 especially as Lady-birds have a very unpleasant 

 odour, which, when multiplied by tens of thousands, 

 becomes almost unbearable. Even after the rooms 



