The adult Ladybird is well known and is usually respected 

 by everybody; but in the grub stage, being so very different 

 in appearance and somewhat repulsive to look at, it is by no 

 means so often recognised and frequently falls a prey to the 

 uninformed zeal of the gardener, who complains of Greenfly 

 while he busily destroys perhaps its greatest enemy the Lady- 

 bird grub. The appetite of these grubs is enormous and they 

 appear to feed almost continuously, 30 to 40 Aphides being 

 devoured with scarcely a pause. 



Description and Life History. The Eggs (Plate L, Fig. 2) of 

 the Ladybird are conical in shape and yellow in colour, going 

 brown when about to hatch. They are placed by the adult 

 insect in small groups upon the stem or underside of the leaves 

 of a plant infested by Aphides. 



The Grub (Plate I., Fig. 3) is a flattish, black, ugly creature 

 with a big head and six legs on the fore part of the body. In 

 some species it is marked with yellowish or reddish and white 

 markings. After hatching from the egg, it soon begins to hunt, 

 and on arriving at the first group of Aphides eats its way 

 steadily through them. It is very active, an indefatigable 

 hunter, and, on having killed out the prey on a particular plant 

 or branch, will pass rapidly to the next. It grows quickly, 

 changes its skin several times, and on becoming full-fed turns 

 to a pupa on the plant or anything adjoining. 



The Pupa (Plate I., Fig. 4) is a pomewhat dried-up looking 

 object when first formed, light yellow, but afterwards darker 

 in colour. The shrivelled skin of the grub, out of which the 

 pupa has emerged, remains wrapped round the " tail." After 

 a few days, varying with the season, this pupa splits and the 

 adult Ladybird crawls forth, being at first soft and pale, but 

 hardening in a few hours and attaining the characteristic 

 coloration. 



The Perfect Insect (Plate L, Fig. 1). The little round, red 

 beetles with black spots, known as Ladybirds, are familiar to 

 everyone. There are, however, many kinds, some red or yellow 

 with black spots, others black with red spots. In certain kinds 

 even the separate individuals vary in colour from black to red 

 according to which colour predominates. Nearly all, however, 

 have the characteristic shape and appearance, so that, apart 

 from colour, they may easily be recognised as undoubted 

 Ladybirds. 



On emergence from the pupa, Ladybirds soon begin to feed 

 upon Aphides. The females, after pairing, lay eggs and the 

 life-cycle begins again. There are several broods throughout 

 the summer, the last one hybernating. spending the winter 

 asleep under bark of trees or in some cranny, when at times 

 considerable numbers collect together in one place. With the 

 warmth of spring they emerge from their hiding places and the 

 first eggs of the season are laid. 



