Objects for the Microscope. 105 



CATHEKETES URTIC^. 



This is a lovely little Beetle ; as we see by its tarsi, it 

 is one of the Pentamera, though at first sight easily mis- 

 taken for one of the four-jointed Coleoptera, as the fifth 

 joint is very small, and only visible from beneath. The 

 antennae show that it belongs to the Glavicorne family, for 

 they are clubbed. This particular little Beetle is one of a 

 flower-loving group called Nitidulidce, always easily recog- 

 nised by having eleven joints in the antennae, and the last 

 three in a club, or strung like beads, with an interval 

 between each. The spotted elytra are beautiful. The 

 facetted eyes and the delicate mouth will require a higher 

 power rightly to examine them. And this exquisite insect 

 is one we may see in swarms upon nettles revelling in the 

 pendent blossoms any sunny summer's day very small 

 black creeping things we pass unheeded by. 



COCCINELLA, OR LADY-BIRD. 



This familiar little visitor is not only a beautiful object 

 for the microscope, but a real friend to the florist, who is 

 apt to be disappointed and angered by what is called 

 the " green blight " upon the roses, and is not perhaps 

 aware that two or three Lady-birds would clear it all 

 away much better than the usual means applied by 

 gardeners. 



The Lady-bird is particularly fond of Aphides, and, in 

 its larva state, pupa state, and perfect form, will greedily 

 levour them, darting at an Aphis, and seizing it in those 

 strong little jaws, shaking it as a terrier does a rat, and 

 sucking its life away ; then dropping the empty body, and 

 springing upon another and another. The little Coccinella 

 cias frequently saved our fir plantations from the host of 

 lestroying Aphis in the spring ; and our bean-fields, when 

 attacked by the black blight (Aphis faboa), are often 

 cleared again in an incredibly short time by the avenger 

 G-od has given us in this lovely little Beetle. 



It is one of the Trimera, three joints only in the tarsi. 



7 



