31 



Of preJaceous insects, perhaps the most interesting is the little coecinellid 

 PcntUia miscUa. (Fig. 2.) Both larvfe and beetles feed upon the scales, the 

 Ijeetles seeming to prefer the full grown female scales, and their larvas the 

 young scales. It is found both in the Eastern States and, possibly, also on the 

 Pacific slop'e. 



Twice-Stabded Ladybird {Chilocorus: hinihicris). 

 This is a beautiful little black beetle with two bright read spots on its 

 wing-covers. Tlie larva is shown in the cut, and is black, crossed by a bright 



Beetle. 



Larva. 



(Fig. 3.) 



yellow band about the middle, and is armed with many soft, long, branching 

 spines. This Ladybird preys upon various scales, and is especially destructive 

 to the San Jose Scale {Aspidiotus perniciosits) , and the Ouster-shell scale 

 {lli/tilaspis pomonim ) , 



Brown-Neck Lad'I'BIRd. (Scyiiiiius inaifiinicoUis) . 

 This very small beetle feeds upon scale insects and delights 

 in attacking the red spider. To the naked eye it appears deep 

 black and shiny, and at the touch drops or rolls oft", but before 

 reaching the ground spreads out its wings and flies away. The 

 colour of the body is yellowish-gray, and is thickly covered with 

 mealy powder. The head is black and the neck brown. The 

 wing cases are black and covered with hair. 



Ambiguous Ladybird (llippodamiu unihUjuu). 



(Fig. 4). 



Much 

 Enlarged. 



(Fig. 5.) 

 This is a blood-red Ladybird, which is very plentiful, 

 the largest of the Ladybirds, and feeds upon aphides. 



The larva is one of 



