THE BEAX LADYBIRD. d 



width. The color of the newly developed adult is yellow, gradu- 

 ally darkening with age to a grayish brown. Each elytron or wing- 

 cover is marked with eight small black spots of variable size. 

 Technical descriptions of the genus and species follow : 



Genus Epilachxa. 



Large, pubescent species related to Chilocorus. Sides of prothorax only 

 slightly curved and broadly explanate ; those of elytra rather strongly re- 

 flexed; epipleura* horizontal, broadly concave, not distinctly extended to 

 sutural apex. Metasternal and ventral lines well-defined, legs moderately re- 

 tractile ; femora not deeply sulcate beneath, tibia? with an acute external edge, 

 and shallow groove for reception of tarsi; claws cleft, with lower cusp nearly 

 as long as upper. 



EPZLACHXA COBBTJPTA 1ITT.S. 



Form oblong, more narrowly oval than borealis and distinctly smaller, dull 

 In luster, densely pubescent, and very closely, unequally punctate ; color gray- 

 ish brown ; head and pronotum without spots. Each elytron ornamented with 



Fig. 1. — The bean ladybird (Epilaehna corrupta) : a, Larva; ft, beetle; c, pupa; d, egg 

 mass. About three times natural size. 



eight spots or dots of varying size in three rows; three small sub-basal spots 

 in a broken row, median less basal ; three in a transverse subparallel row just 

 before the middle, usually larger than sub-basal, median usually a little larger, 

 and two near apical fourth, placed near inner fourth and outer third. Lower 

 surface darker or concolorous with legs, which are pale throughout. 

 Length 6.5-7.8 mm. ; width 4.8-5.4 mm. 



The so-considered Mexican variety, E. varipes Muls.. differs mainly 

 from the species under discussion as it occurs north of Mexico in 

 having the two subapical spots united or coalescing, forming an 

 arcuate fascia. All spots are also larger and surrounded by a lighter 

 aureole. The typical varivestis. as figured by Gorham, shows these 

 aureoles, but they are less pronounced in many specimens from the 

 United States. 



Specimens occasionally occur of a more or less pronounced buff 

 color, but these usually are not fully colored, being more or less im- 

 mature when killed for mounting. 



THE EGG. 



The egg is dull pale yellow, elliptical in outline, approximately 

 twice as long as wide, a little larger at the base or attached end than 



