COLEOPTERA. 535 



to the fruit-growers. Nothing more wonderful has been 

 accomplished in economic entomology than the subduing in 

 California of the cottony-cushion scale by the introduction 

 from Australia of a lady-bug, Vedalia (Ve-da'li-a), which 

 feeds upon it. 



Next in importance to the Vedalia on the Pacific coast 

 are the twice-stabbed lady-bugs. Several species that occur 

 on both sides of the continent are included under this popu- 

 lar name. They are black, with a bright-yellow or reddish 

 spot on each wing-cover. They are especially prized in 

 California as they feed on the pernicious scale, the black 

 scale, and other destructive species. 



A very common lady-bug in the East is Adalia bipunctata 

 (A-da'li-a bi-punc-ta'ta). This species is figured on Plate I, 

 Figure 3. It is reddish yellow above, with the middle of the 

 prothorax black, and with a black spot on each wing-cover. 

 It frequently passes the winter in our dwellings, and is found 

 on the walls and windows in early spring. Under such 

 circumstances it is often mistaken for the carpet-beetle and, 

 unfortunately, destroyed. 



The Nine-spotted Lady-bug, Coccinella novemnotata 

 (Coc-ci-neria no-vem-no-ta'ta) has yellowish wing- 

 covers, with four black spots on each, in addition 

 to a common spot just back of the scutellum 



/TT- £L X FlG - 643> 



{Fig. 643). 



The Herbivorous Lady-bug, Epilachna borealis (Ep-i- 

 lach'na bor-e-a'lis), presents a remarkable exception in habits 

 to what is the rule in this family. The larva of this species 

 is herbivorous, feeding on the leaves of squash, pumpkin, and 

 allied plants. It is yellow and is clothed with forked spines 

 (Fig. 644). A pupa, is shown in the figure near the upper 

 right-hand corner. The adult is yellowish, with large black 

 spots. 



The family ENDOMVCHID^E (En-do-mych'i-dae) includes 

 a small number of species which are found chiefly in fungi. 

 The body is usually more elongate than in the preceding 



