70 FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



they are more easily caught than are the harmful insects 

 upon which they prey. Such are the ladybirds, small 

 round-backed beetles, with reddish or red wing-covers, 

 usually marked by some black spots. (Fig. 28.) Then, 

 again, some of them are of medium or large size and 

 brightly-colored, hence easily seen. One or two of these 

 ought to be mentioned. The Searcher is one of the 

 largest of the ground beetles, measuring about two inches 



i« I 



Fig. 28. — Some California ladybird beetles; beginning at left of upper 

 row, the species are Megilla vUigera, Coccinella californica, Coccinella oculata, 

 Hippodamia convergens; beginning at left of lower row, Coccinella trifasciata, 

 Coccinella ianguinea, Coccinella abdominalis, Megilla maculata. (Kellogg.) 



in length, reckoning in the widely extended, slender 

 legs. (Fig. 29.) The hind part of the body is much wider 

 than the head and the thorax. Its handsome wing-covers 

 are green with a red stripe around the outer edge. The 

 under part of the body is brilliant with shades of blue, 

 green, copper, and bronze. This beetle is known to prey 

 extensively upon cut- worms and to climb trees in search of 

 the gypsy moth caterpillar. The Fiery Hunter is another 

 of these valuable beetles. It is a little slenderer than The 

 Searcher, but its appearance is similar. The wing-covers 

 are blackish, marked with rows of bright red or copper- 



