318 



AGRICULTURE. 



plant-lice and scale insects. The ladybugs are 

 small, rather pretty, turtle-shaped beetles nearly 

 always bright colored (orange or red), with jet 

 black spots upon them, or black with white, red, 



or yellow spots (Fig. 

 1 10). This bright color 

 is a warning to the birds 

 that these bugs are un- 

 pleasant to the taste ; 

 hence, they are seldom 

 eaten by the birds. The 

 larva is equally protect- 

 ed by its terrifying ap- 

 pearance, since it is cov- 

 ered with long or sharp 

 spines (Fig. 1 10 a). 



The ladybugs are very 

 common, and are found upon plants infested 

 with plant-lice and scale insects (Fig. 1 1 1). The 

 fruit growers of California prevented the de- 

 struction of their orchards by importing a 

 species of ladybug from Australia to prey upon 

 these scale insects.* 



But there are enemies in the camp : three 

 species of ladybugs are injurious to plants. 

 One species (Fig. 112), in both larval and adult 

 stages, devours the leaves, flowers, and green 

 pods of the bean. Another species feeds upon 



Anatis l$-punctata, 

 Say. 



(After Riley.) 



* The United States Division of Entomology has imported a 

 Chinese ladybug to prey upon the San Jose scale. 



