130 



COLEOPTEEA OR BEETLES. 



other large ones by tlie eight black spots on the elytra being sur- 

 rounded with a yellowish band. The genus Scymnus, another 

 group of CoccinellidsB, also do much good by devouring scales. 

 A minute black lady-bird (Scymnus minimus) has been recorded 

 by Miss Ormerod as feeding on plant-lice and red-spiders as 

 well. These useful beetles lay their creamy-white eggs (1) in 

 the spring upon a variety of plants. They are deposited in 

 groups closely applied together, and hatch out into the larvse 

 in from ten to fifteen days. The larvse, called "niggers" 

 (3 and 4), are smoky black or grey, with yellow or orange and 



Fig. 55. — Lady-birds (CocGiti6Uid(B). 



1, Ova on leaf; 2, egg magnified ; 3, larva ("nigger"); 4, natural size ; 5, 6, pupae; 

 7, Adalia bi-punctata ; 8, variety of A. bi-punotata ; 9, Ooccinella septem-punctata. 

 (Curtis.) 



white markings on their bodies. They are extremely active, 

 and pursue the plant -lice with considerable agility. The 

 " nigger " has six jointed legs in front, and the surface of the 

 body is more or less rough, and slightly hairy. When mature 

 these carnivorous creatures attach themselves by their tail with 

 silk to the under-side of the leaf, and then change into the short, 

 plump, black and creamy- white pupa (5 and 6):. in the early 

 summer the pupa hatches out in about two weeks into the 

 mature lady-bird, which soon commences to carry on the good 

 work of clearing off the fly, started during its larval career. 



The importance of these carnivorous allies cannot be over- 

 estimated. The destructive scale, Icerya purchasi, which all 



