long 



Ground beetles (Fig 4) are large, usually 3/4" or longer>and gener- 

 ally shiny, dark and flattened. Nearly all members of this family 

 are predacious on other insects and some are highly beneficial. One, 

 the European ground beetle, a large beetle with beautiful irrides- 

 cent blue green color, was imported to aid in the control of gypsy 

 and brown-tail moths. Although called ground beetles, these insects 

 often climb trees and shrubs in search of prey. 



Syrphid flies (Fig 5) are often observed hovering about flowers in 

 the adult stage. Many are brightly colored and resemble various 

 bees and wasps; however, none of the species found will bit or sting 

 man. The larvae in orchards are predacious for the most part on 

 a p h i d s . 



Parasitic wasps (Fig 6) are among the most beneficial of all insect 

 families. They are cosmopolitan in distribution, and parasitic in 

 the immature stages. Members of the family Ichneumoni dae are very 

 numerous, this family being one of the largest in the insect class. 

 The adults vary considerably in size, form and coloration, but the 

 majority resemble slender wasps, and the ovipositor is usually quite 

 long, often longer than the body. The ichneumons attack a great var- 

 iety of hosts, there being very few groups of insects which are not 

 attacked by some member of this family. Adults are active fliers 

 and usually go unobserved by most orchardists unless the insect 

 fauna are routinely observed with keen eyes. 



The brachonids are also very numerous, but somewhat smaller 

 and more stout-bodied than the ichneumons. Members of this group 

 also attack a wide variety of insects, but sawflies, aphids, cater- 

 pillars and flies such as the apple maggot would be those of most 

 interest to orchardists. 



Ladybird beetles (Fig 7), of which there are many species, are per- 

 haps the most common and best known of all aphid predators. The 

 yellow-orange eggs of these beetles are laid in small groups on 

 leaves of plants which usually are infested with aphids. The 

 "alligator-like" larvae (Fig 7) are black or blue with yellow or 

 orange. They commonly pupate on the plant leaves, and although 

 stationary as pupae, they exhibit an interesting protective trait 

 of jerking back and forth when disturbed by another organism. Adult 

 lady beetles often live a full year and may fly from plants in one 

 area to those in another area many miles distant during their life- 



