76 BRITISH INSECTS 



usually feed on other insects, molluscs, or worms ; 

 but some species eat carrion or vegetable substances. 



Of the family Coccinellidce we have upwards of forty 

 species, represented by the common ladybirds, of 

 which the " two-spot " L and the " seven-spot " 2 are 

 most frequently seen. The active larvae are often 

 called " niggers." They abound upon plants during 

 the summer months, usually cast their skins three 

 times, and eventually change to pupae, which are fixed 

 by the tail to a leaf or stem. Most members of this 

 family feed on aphides and other small, soft-bodied 

 insects, and thus render important service to mankind ; 

 but a few feed on plants. 



The well-known bacon-beetle 3 is one of the family 

 Dermestida, in which the larvae are usually clothed 

 with long hairs. Almost all the species feed on dried 

 animal matter, such as bacon, leather, and skins. 

 Some, such as the museum-beetle, 4 are very destruc- 

 tive to zoological collections. The raspberry-beetle, 5 

 however, is exceptional. The adults eat the essential 

 parts of raspberry and bramble blooms, and the larvae 

 feed on the " receptacles " of the fruit. 



The family Ptmidce also comprises a number of 

 destructive species, among which the " bread " or 

 " paste " beetle 6 stands conspicuous, since it feeds on 

 almost all kinds of dried animal or vegetable sub- 

 stances. It has even been known to subsist for 

 several consecutive generations on a diet of opium ! 

 Most members of the family, however, eat wood, 

 Anobium domesticum being the culprit usually re- 



1 Coccinella bipunctata. 2 C. septempunctata. 



3 Dermestes lardarius. 4 Anthrenus museorum. 



5 Byturus tomentosus. 



6 Anobium paniceum ; also called Sitodrepa paniceum. 



