15G MR. E. P. STEBBINQ ON THE 



position, the dorsal surface being convex, ventral concave 

 (fig, 4a), The larva remains in this position for about 24 hours, 

 and then the outer skin splits dorsally from the anterior end to 

 the posterior portion of the 10th segment, and the skin gets 

 drawn or shrivels back on either side, and the bright red, almost 

 spherical, pupa is disclosed (figs. 4 i & 5), The pupa, nestling 

 in the surrounding purple and white speckled old larva-skin, 

 looks not unlike a small wild strawberry fruit sessile amongst 

 the leaves. In the crimson pupa the two small black eyes of 

 the future beetle, the developing wings, and dorsal segmental 

 divisions of the abdomen can be distinctly seen under the brightly 

 coloured skin. The posterior segment of the future beetle is 

 nearest to the point of attachment of the pupa, so that when 

 the adult coccinellid is ready to emerge, the skin splits dorsally 

 and veutrally at the anterior end of the pupa, and the beetle 

 crawls out. Size 6'25 mm. The colour varies from bright to 

 dull red, crimson, or orange-red. 



For the imago, vide Crotch's description in his ' Eevision of 

 the CoccinelUdce,' p. 282 (1874). 



In both its larval and adult stages this Vedalia preys upon 

 the coccid M. Stehhingi. 



It was found in its larval, pupal, and imago forms in large 

 numbers in the Siwalik Forest in April 1902. 



The exact period passed in the larval stage has yet to be 

 observed, but the grubs ia that year commenced pupatipg 

 towards the end of March, and continued to do so till the end of 

 April. Eight to nine days appear to be the usual period spent 

 in the pupal stage. Larvae pupating on the 16th April issued 

 on the 24th and 25th of the month, and numerous other in- 

 dividuals bred out showed this period to be fairly constant. 

 The beetle passes some days, perhaps as much as a fortnight, 

 feeding upon the scales before pairing and ovipositing. The 

 male adult dies within 24 hours of fertilizing the female; this 

 latter then apparently seeks out a place of concealment before 

 depositing her eggs. These eggs have not yet been discovered, 

 though dead beetles have often been found in interstices of bark, 

 beneath stone and debris on the ground, &c., near the dead 

 shrivelled skins and cottony egg-sacs of the Monophlehus. It 

 would appear probable that they lay their eggs ia the places 

 wherein those of the coccids are deposited. 



The larva is a very active grub, and when in search of its 



