INSECTS BENEFICIAL AND BEAUTIFUL 255 



aphids in June will be likely to show lady beetles in all 

 stages ; the yellow eggs in clusters, often in the midst of 

 a swarm of aphids ; the alligator-shaped larvas, black with 

 red or yellow spots and covered with warts of spines ; the 

 angular pupag suspended from the leaves or twigs by their 

 tails ; and the adult beetles. Both larva; and adults spend 

 a large part of the time devouring plant lice, scales, and 

 the eggs and young larvas of other insects. 



Lady beetles often come into houses to pass the winter, 

 and their presence may well be encouraged, as it would 

 seem that they might be the best protectors of the win- 

 dow garden against plant lice and scale insects. I have 

 not been able to find any account, however, in which it 

 is stated that they have been successfully kept alive 

 and feeding during the entire winter, but this might 

 prove a valuable line of experiment.^ 



Lion Beetles. — Among the beetles there are a number 

 of other carnivorous species that are of great service in 

 our gardens. If any of these or their larvae can be found, 

 instructive feeding tests may be made. 



The lion beetle, Calosoma scrutator, is our most beauti- 

 ful species. It is somewhat over one inch in length, the 

 wing covers are bright golden green, and the body is 

 marked with blue, gold, green, and copper. This beetle 



1 Professor Weed has described finding " balls " of hibernating lady 

 beetles containing as much as a quart. He stated that they occurred 

 about the borders of woods under piles of leaves and brush. One 

 other observer has reported to me a similar find in a hollow stump. We 

 ought to learn more of this, and if such a ball could be captured and 

 the beetles be distributed among the cherry, peach, and plum trees of a 

 neighborhood, they might nip many a serious outbreak of plant lice in 

 the bud. 



