THE ASIATIC-LABYBIED ENEMY OF THE SCALE. 



65 



THE ASIATIC-LADYBIRD ENEMY OF THE SAN JOSE SCALE. 



Thruout the region investigated in China and Japan (see pp. 11-15), 

 wherever the San Jose scale occurred, apparent!}^ the chief natural 

 agency in keeping it in check was a small lad}' bird, Chilocorus similis 

 Rossi (figs. 11, 12, and PI. YIl), which feeds upon the scale vora- 

 ciousl}^ This beetle is almost identical in appearance with the twice- 

 stabbed ladj^bird of this countrj^, Chilocorus hlvidnerus^ in the adult 

 stage, but in the larval stage differs from it distinctl}^ in coloration. 



Fig. 11. — Asiatic ladybird {Chilocorus similis), oviposition and early larval stages: a, beetle in act of 

 thrusting egg beneath scale; b, scale slightly raised, showing edge of egg beneath; c, scale lifted 

 from bark, showing manner of attachment of egg to the inner surface; d, view of egg in the scale; 

 e, egg magnified to show sculpturing; /, three eggs placed under flap of bark; g, same, natural size; 

 h, i, dorsal and lateral views of newly hatched larva; j, larva, first stage, feeding on mature and 

 young scales. All enlarged except g (author's illustration). 



The Asiatic species has a skin of a reddish or flesh tint, with black 

 spines, while the general color of the larva of the native species is a 

 dull gray, which, with black spines common to both, gives the latter a 

 very much darker appearance. There are also certain minute struc- 

 tural characters which can be made out only with the use of the 

 microscope. There is, furthermore, a ver}^ distinct difference in the 

 habits of the two species, the Asiatic ladybird going through an indefi- 

 nite number of generations — four or five annual!}^, depending upon 

 the climate and latitude — and the American species having much fewer 



