No. 1.] E. P. Stebbing— Predaceous Coccinellidae, Indian Region. 47 



7. INSECTA INDICA II. 



COLEOPTERA 2. Notes upon the known predaceous 



Coccinellidae of the Indian Region, Part I. 



By the Editor. 



In the following papers I propose to describe shortly some of the 

 at present known predaceous Coccinellidae (Lady-bird beetles) of 

 the Indian Region. It is a well-understood fact amongst Econo- 

 mic Entomologists that a thorough knowledge of the life-histories 

 and habits of these most useful insects is a sine qua non to those who 

 wish to place themselves in the position of being able to combat and 

 reduce widespread attacks of certain classes of insect pests. In this 

 Part a list of sixteen species belonging to eleven genera which are 

 known to be predaceous upon various aphids and scale insects in the 

 Indian Region will be considered. I trust that their tabulation here 

 will lead, to a greater number of species being reported in the near 

 future. 



Genus Hippodamia* 



Chever. Dej Cat. [typ. 13-punctata). 



Claws bifid, thorax subtransverse, slightly emarginate in front, 

 base rounded, sinuate inside the posterior angles, not margined; 

 elytra alutaceous, with an obsolete punctuation, abdominal plates en- 

 tirely absent, incomplete externally or (exceptionally) complete. 



1. Hippodamia variegata, var. Doubledayi, Muls. 



(Plate III, figs. 1, la; lb.) 

 Predaceous upon Aphis sp. The Peach Aphis. 

 Beetle $ .— -Head white, edged with black behind, the edging 

 being continued round on either side of prothorax to where it meets 

 the elytra. Latter only slightly rounded at base ; dorsal ly a short 

 longitudinal white line with white dot on either side of it. Elytra 

 longer than wide, orange-yellow. A large black patch in basal 

 exterior angles. A diamond-shaped spot above scutellum which is 

 joined to a large central half-moon shaped blotch, placed near suture, 

 by a narrow band running down the suture. These median blotches 

 joined by a narrow band to another on each side placed more laterally 

 and anteriorly. A small black spot above median blotches near suture^ 

 A large black semi-elliptical spot in inner apical angles. Long. 4 — 5 

 millim. PI. Ill, fig. 1 a ) shows $ beetle, nat. size and enlarged.^ 



$ . Larger than <J ; colour of elytra canary-yellow. The exterior 

 asal and interior apical blotches smaller and not so near the elytral 

 margins. No band connecting diamond-shaped patch with the central 

 inner patches. These latter uniform in shape and placed more 



