LADYBIRD BEETLES 



scavenging expeditions in pairs, being attracted to the 

 spot by scent. The commonest species is brownish- 

 black, with bands and spots of orange-yellow. 



The Coccinellidce includes the useful Ladybird Beetles, 

 and these are popularly named according to the number 

 of spots which they bear upon the wing-cases. The 

 usual form is quite familiar, as the Ladybird is almost as 

 highly regarded in the world of insect life as the Robin 

 is among birds. Yet it is distressing to notice how 

 this beneficent insect is destroyed when in the larval 

 state by even experienced gardeners, to some of whom 

 all animal life spells " foe " ! During a large invasion 

 of these beetles on the South Devon Coast a year or 

 two ago, I also witnessed a small child just able to toddle 

 busily occupied crushing dozens of these creatures by 

 way of amusement. The larva may frequently be dis- 

 covered among plant-lice on the under surface of curled 

 apple leaves. It is smoke-grey in colour, with yellow 

 or white dots, and is very slow-moving. It does good 

 by feeding upon the lice, and should at all times be 

 encouraged. The rounded convex form, short legs 

 and antennae, black and red, or black and yellow elytra, 

 and the number of the spots, are features of interest. 

 Two of the most familiar species are known as the 

 Two-Spot and Seven-Spot respectively, but there is 

 another called the Eyed Ladybird, having eight black 

 spots, which perform useful service in clearing off green 

 fly from hop plants. The creamy-white eggs of Lady- 

 birds are deposited on plants during Spring, and the 

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