BEETLES. 



311 



Of larger species, ChilocoriM bioulneras is black, nearly hemispherical, with a single 

 red spot upon each elj'tron. It is often to be found about orchards, upon the trunks 

 of the trees, and its spiny, dark-colored pupte are not rare, three or four in groups, in 

 crevices of the bark. This species, as well as C. cacti, found abundantly on the Pacific 

 coast, prey upon scale-insects, and are consequently among the most useful friends 

 of fruit-growers. In Europe C. bipuatulatui is abundant in all stages on a species of 

 huckleberry ( Vacciiiuuii iiujrt'dlus). 



Coccinella is hemispherical, hairless, and contains many pretty species, which 

 have received oftentimes scientific names to indicate the number 

 or nature of their spots. Among them, (J. noDeinnotata, the nine- 

 spotted lady-bird, has a black and white liead and jirothorax, and 

 reddish elytra, on which are nine round black spots. The figures 

 give a good idea of the appearance of this species. C. aeptempiuic- 

 tata, the seven-spotted lady-bird, one of the largest and conmionest 

 European sjJecies of this family, resembles in a general way C. nou- 

 emnotata, and was used in earlier times, like some other species of 

 lady-birds, as a remedy for toothache. Forskal, late as 1775, enu- 

 merates Coccinella in the materia inedica of Cairo, Egypt. In the accompanying- 

 figure are a few other common European lady-birds. 



Fig. 347. — Coccin- 

 ella novemnotata, 

 pufja above. 



FJt>. y4s. — European lady-birds, a, Coccinella dispor : b, C. impustulata; c, CkilocorUfj hipntstulcdais ; 

 d, Coccinella septew pmictaia , and c, larva; f, Mkraspis duodcciwpunctata. 



Adalia hipunctata is our most common species, and is often called the two-spotted 

 lady-bird. Its head is black, with two 3'ellow spots on each side aljove; prothorax 

 black, with yellow lateral portions, and a few dorsal yellow sjiots ; scutellum black ; 

 elytra reddish-yellow, each with one central round black spot. Beneath, the epiplenra^ 

 are reddish-yellow ; the margins of the prothorax yellow ; all else black. This species 

 hibernates in large numbers under bark, in Ijarns, and even in houses. In early spring 

 the two-spotted lady-birds come out of their hiding-places and lay their olilong yellow 

 eggs in little masses upon the bark of trees, choosing localities where there is a pros- 

 pect of an abundant supply of plant-lice, upon which their larvas feed. A few of 

 these beetles brought indoors and put upon house-plants will seek out the plant-lice, 

 and the females, if they discover a colony of plaut-lice, will deposit their eggs uear 



