THE LADY BEETLES. 



525 



XVI. Scymntts Kug. 1794. (Gr, "a cub or whelp.") 



This genus comprises a very large number of minute, pubescent 

 forms which occur on foliage in spring and summer and are readily 

 taken by beating. Horn, in his " Studies" in 1895, listed and de- 

 scribed 45 species from the United States. Casey, in his Revision 

 in 1899, increased this number to 118 and left the genus, as Bow- 

 ditch has well put it, "a wilderness." Thirteen species have been 

 recognized among those collected in Indiana, while several others 



doubtless occur. 

 3> 



Fig. 193. Smilia misella; a, adult; b, larva; c, pupa; d, all stage?, larvae and adults feeding on San Jos£ 

 scale in calyx cup of pear. All much enlarged. (After Howard and Marlatt.) 



As the term "metacoxal line" is used extensively in the key, I 

 quote from Dr. Horn 's Revision of the genus as follows : ' ' The 

 first ventral segment exhibits the character of greatest value in the 

 division of species. Behind the coxal cavity is a slightly elevated 

 line beginning at the inner edge of the cavity passing more or less 

 obliquely and curved toward the first suture, sometimes joining the 

 suture and continuous with it (Fig. 194, No. 1), or running parallel 

 with the suture (Fig. 194, No. 2). or recurving to the front and 

 when entire ending near the front angle of the segment. (Fig. 

 194, No. 4). In the present essay this line is called the 'metacoxal 

 line.' " Casey calls the lines "abdominal Lines." To see them 

 plainly the hind femora must be lifted up or pushed to one side and 



