COLEOPTERA OR BEETLES. 129 



fication, but such an arrangement is not natural. This classifi- 

 cation is as follows : — 



1. Pseudotrimera. — Tarsi composed of four joints, of which 



one is very minute, giving the appearance of three- 

 jointed tarsi {CoccineUidii'). 



2. Pseudotetramera. — One joint of the five-jointed tarsi very 



minute and concealed, giving a four-jointed appearance 

 [OurcvJionida; and Ghrijsomelidw). 



3. Heteromera. — Tarsi of the two anterior pairs of legs five- 



jointed, of the posterior four-jointed (Oantharidce and 

 Tenebrionidce). 



4. Pentamera. — Tarsi five -jointed {Xijlophaija, Elateridm, 



Lamellicorida, Carabvhi;, Cicinilelidce, &c.) 



Lady-birds (Coccinellidje). 



The Coccinellidae or Lady-bird Beetles are nearly all beneficial. 

 Their food consists very largely of plant-lice or aphides, and the 

 injurious scale-insects or Coccidas. Both larval and adult lady- 

 birds have the same diet. There are a great number of species, 

 most being black and red or black and yellow in colour. 

 These useful beetles hibernate during the winter months in 

 the adult state, seeking shelter under the bark of trees, in 

 outhouses, or amongst fallen timber, and very often invading 

 houses in such numbers in the autumn as to completely cover 

 the ceilings : this is particularly noticeable by any one living near 

 hop-gardens, where numbers of Coccinellidte always congregate 

 to feed off the hop-lice. 



Perhaps the commonest species are the 2-spotted lady-bird 

 {Coccinella (Adaliu) hi-'punctata) (fig. 55, 7), the 10-spotted 

 species (C. decem-punctata), and the 7-spotted species (C. sejdem- 

 punctata) (fig. 55, 9), which may be found all over England. 

 The eyed lady-bird (C. ocellata), one of our largest species, may 

 also be seen often in hop-gardens, and feeding off the larch and 

 other coniferous plant-lice. This species can be told from the 



