TRIMERA, ST11EPSI PTERA. 



139 



Lady-cows. 



plants. One species, the Crioceris Asparagi, which is of a blue 

 colour, with the thorax red, and the elytra yellowish-white with 

 blue markings, feeds, in the larva state, on the young sprigs of 

 Asparagus ; and is sometimes so abundant, as to do considerable 

 injury to the gardener. It is also remarkable for covering itself 

 with a sort of screen, composed of its excrements, in the same 

 way as the larva of the Cassida, although it is destitute of the 

 curious fork on which the latter carries its natural parasol. 



721. Section IV. TRIMERA. The Beetles of 

 this section are, for the most part, of small size, and 

 not very numerous. Their habits are various, a 

 portion feeding on Fungi, arid the remainder chiefly 

 upon Aphides. To the latter section belongs the 

 genus Coccinella, of which several species are known 

 in this country, under the name of Lady-birds or 

 They sometimes appear in great profusion, and 

 have created much alarm. 

 It is erroneous to sup- 

 pose, however, that they 

 do any injury to vegeta- 

 tion ; |br, on the con- 

 trary, they are of great 

 benefit to plants, by 

 feeding on the Aphides 

 which infest them ; and 

 this they do both in the 

 larva and perfect states. 

 722. This is probably 

 the best place in which to 

 introduce a small group of 

 singular insects, forming 

 the order STREPSIPTERA 

 or RHIPIPTERA, of many 

 entomologists ; the insects 

 belonging to it being evidently closely related to the Coleoptera, 

 of which they are now regarded by many as forming an integral 

 portion. They are parasitic upon various species of Bees and 



FIG. 462. A, Stylops Dalii, nat. size ; B, magnified ; 

 C, Andrena, with the heads of two females ex- 

 serted between the abdominal rings, a ; D, female 

 extracted and magnified. 



