110 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



CATHERETES TJRTIC^E. 



This is a lovely little Beetle ; as we see by its tarsi, it 

 is one of the Pentamera, though at first sight easily mis- 

 taken for one of the four-jointed Coleoptera, as the fifth 

 joint is very small, and only visible from beneath. The 

 antennse show that it belongs to the Clavicorne family, for 

 they are clubbed. This particular little Beetle is one of a 

 flower-loving group called Nitidulidce, always easily recog- 

 nised by having eleven joints in the antennae, and the last 

 three in a club, or strung like beads, with an interval between 

 each. The spotted elytra are beautiful. The facetted eyes 

 and the delicate mouth will require a higher power rightly 

 to examine them. And this exquisite insect is one we may 

 see in swarms upon nettles revelling in the pendent blos- 

 soms any sunny Summer's day very small black creeping 

 things we pass unheeded by. 



COCCINELLA, OB, LADY-BIRD. 



This familiar little visitor is not only a beautiful ob- 

 ject for the microscope, but a real friend to the florist, 

 who is apt to be disappointed and angered by what is 

 called the " green blight" upon the roses, and is not 

 perhaps aware that two or three Lady-birds would clear 

 it all away much better than the usual means applied by 

 gardeners. 



The Lady-bird is particularly fond of Aphides, and, in its 

 larva state, pupa state, and perfect form, will greedily de- 

 vour them, darting at an Aphis, and seizing it in those 

 strong little jaws, shaking it as a terrier does a rat, and 

 sucking its life away ; then dropping the empty body, and 

 springing upon another and another. The little Coccinella 

 has frequently saved our fir plantations from the host of 

 destroying Aphis in the Spring ; and our bean-fields, when 

 attacked by the black blight (Aphis faboa] , are often cleared 

 again in an incredibly short time by the avenger God has 

 given us in this lovely little Beetle. 



It is one of the Trimera, three joints only in the tarsi. 



