306 Forty-sixth Report on the State Museum 



and killing all I saw in the meantime. Last spring we varnished the 

 cracks of the floors, and in some cases, where they were verj^ open, 

 covered them with strips of thin muslin stuck down with the varnish; 

 we again put paper under the carpets, as we had found it such 

 protection the previous year. I have found the various insect 

 powders of no use whatever when the insect is in the larval state : 

 whether or not it has any effect on the beetle I can not say ; but this I 

 can state, — that our unceasing warfare has not been in vain, for I have, 

 during the past summer, seen only single ones where last year I found 

 scores. 



The Two-spotted Lady-bug, mistaken for the Anthrenus Beetle. 

 " The little ladj^-bug " mentioned in the inquiry from Poughkeepsie as 

 occurring in great numbers in association with the carpet beetles, is the 



two-spotted lady-bug, Adalia hipiinctata (Linn.). It 

 has frequently been mistaken for the carpet-beetle, 

 and has come to an untimely end in consequence — 

 in some instances having been collected on dust- 

 pans and burned. It is unfortunate that such 

 mistakes should occur, since it is to this insect 

 more than to any other that we are often indebted 

 Fig. 4— The two-spotted for deliverance from a plant-louse infestation of 

 t: lady-bug Adalia hi- fi-^it-trees, shrubs, and flowers. It has no resem- 



punctata (after Em- i i i i • i • 



mons). blance whatever to the carpet-beetle, than which it 



is many times larger (see figures of the two in my 6th Report) ; the 

 only reason for confusing it with the carpet pest is that it enters 

 dwelling-houses in the autumn for passing the winter (the only one of 

 the ladv-bugs having this habit), and is frequently to be met with col- 

 lected in corners underneath the carpets, or creeping or flying about 

 when fires have been made in rooms ordinarily cold. It seems strange, 

 that, in this enlightened age, smy household could be found in 

 which none of its members could recognize so typical a lady- 

 bird as the Adalia and know of its entire harmlessness. The lady- 

 birds are quite common insects : they are , attractive in their 

 bright shining colors and conspicuous maculation; their form is 

 peculiar — *' gotten up," as a reportorial wit has recently expressed 

 it, "on the architectural lines of a split pea;" for centuries they 

 have been cherished objects of admiration in the countries of the 

 Old World, where peculiar associations or superstitions have been con- 

 nected with them. From some one of these has doubtless been bor- 

 rowed the motherly couplet that all of us have heard in our childhood 

 and have ourselves uttered when some one of these pretty creatures 

 had run up to finger-tip'and was about to unfold its wings for flight : 



Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home. 



Your house is on fire, your children will burn. 



