48 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. VI ; 



laterally and about £rd from apex. The two spots above these smaller 

 and not so close to suture. Long. 5*1 millim. (Fig. ih.) 



Larva.'- -Head orange with four longitudinal dorsal black stripes 

 radiating outwards. Ground colour of body white all over. Third 

 segment orange. Four black spots placed transversely on dorsal sur- 

 face of each segment forming four rows of dots running longitudinally 

 down the dorsal surface of the body, the two middle rows being close 

 together with a wide spice between them and the outer ones. Under- 

 surface white. Described from living specimens on 12th May 1902. 

 Long. 8'2 millim. 



Pupa. — Before pupation the larva attaches itself by its anal extre- 

 mity to a leaf and remains projecting outwards at an angle from the 

 point of attachment, the body slightly curved over, dorsal surface 

 convex, ventral one concave. The pupa is greyish black in colour 

 in its first stage, becoming bright yellow when the larval skin splits 

 down and shrivels back disclosing the true pupa. Below the yellow 

 the orange-yellow forming elytra can be seen beneath the pupal 

 skin ; some black spots in pairs upon the dorsal surface of the head and 

 thorax. The suture between thorax and future elytra is plainly 

 marked ; four rows of black dots run dorsally down abdominal 

 segments, the two innermost being the largest ; two large black 

 spots placed medianly and dorsally between the elytra swellings. 

 Long. 5*2 millim. PI. Ill, fig. 1, shows a pupa on a leaf. 



D ist fibu tion .— Dehra Dun plateau, North India. Elevation 2,000 

 feet (mihi). 



Life-History. — The insect was taken in all its stages by the writer 

 on the 12th May. It was engaged in actively feeding upon a green 

 aphis which was committing serious damage to some young peach 

 trees on the Dun plateau. The Hippodamia was accompanied by 

 Ccelopkora sauzeto, Chilomenes sex-maculata, and Brumus suturalis 

 (all described below) which were also predaceous upon the Aphis 

 although they were not as common as the coccinellid under consi- 

 deration. The description of the method of feeding of the larva and 

 adults given here will stand for any one of the other three species," 

 whose stages were also observed. 



The larvae devour both wingless and winged forms. One grub 

 watched consumed seven aphids successively, springing upon the small 

 insects, seizing and holding them with its anterior pair of legs, and 

 then sucking them dry. The skins are apparently swallowed as well 

 as the contents as no trace of these latter could be found in the box in 

 which a number of the coccinellid larvae were fed. In the case of 

 the winged forms the wings were the only portions rejected. The 



