E.. subglabra (Fall), and Lytta muttalli Say defoliate Caranga in 
the Great Plains; E'picauta torsa (LeC.) defoliates ho'ly in Florida 
and mimosa in Florida and Oklahoma; E. cinerea (Forst.) defoli- 
ates black and honey locusts and hornbeam in Arkansas; and 
Pomphopoea polita (Say) feeds on the pollen of shortleaf pine in 
the South. Horsfall (379) discussed the biology and control of 
common species. 
FAMILY NITIDULIDAE 
SAP BEETLES 
Sap beetles are elongate or oval, usually less than 25 mm. long, 
and often of contrasting black, red, and yellow colors. The an- 
tennae are 11-segmented and club-shaped; the sides of the thorax 
and elytra are often margined; and the elytra are shorter than 
the body, leaving the end of the abdomen exposed. The larvae are 
nearly white, flattened, and moderately elongate. The head is 
broad and projecting with deeply retracted mouth parts. Paired 
and forked horny armatures are often found on the ninth abdomi- 
nal segment. Connell (155) published keys to the species occurring 
in Delaware. 
Both the adults and larvae feed on decaying fruit, on ferment- 
ing juices under bark, and on sap exuding from freshly cut logs 
and stumps or wounds on living trees. Patches of cambium are 
often killed by bark infesting species. When these dead areas dry 
up and heal over, they remain in the wood as “bark pocket” de- 
fects and lower its value. A number of species also appear capable 
of penetrating the bark of oak in the absence of injuries. When 
this happens, the larvae feed in the cambium region and destroy 
patches up to 2 inches across (fig. 36). Several members of the 
family are also likely candidates as vectors of the oak wilt fungus, 
Ceratocystis fagacearum. In studies conducted in West Virginia, 
they occurred abundantly in and on moist wounds on wild-infested 
trees and on mycelial mats of the fungus beneath the bark (201). 
FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE 
LADY BEETLES 
More than 500 species of lady beetles occur in the United 
States, by far the greater number of which feed on aphids and 
scales, or on the eggs and larvae of larger insects. AS a group 
they are among the most beneficial of all the insects. Being quite 
common, they are also among the most widely recognized of all 
species. The adults are small, usually less than 5 mm. long. The 
body is round or hemispherical and extremely convex. The surface 
is shining and often brilliantly marked with black, white, red, or 
yellow spots. The larvae are alligator-shaped, black or gray in 
color, or spotted or checkered with bright colors, and covered 
with warts or spines. Eggs are light yellow and are laid in 
clusters on the leaves or bark of a plant or tree. The winter is 
spent in the adult stage, sometimes in enormous congregations of 
beetles. A few of the more important species feeding on forest 
121 
