13^ 



[CGccineila scfteinpunctata). Both as larvsr and adults 

 Lady Birds devotir great numbers of Aphides and Scale 

 Insects , and for this reason they should never be 

 destroyed. The females deposit their eggs as a rule on 

 Aphid infested plants so that their larvae may not have 

 tar to vs-ancier for their food supply. The Beetles are 

 all very similar m shape and are mostly black and red, 

 or black and yellow m colour. The}' hibernate during 

 the winter beneath bark of trees, under rubbish and m 

 outhouses, etc. In the follovdng spring they lay their 

 cream-coloured eggs closely packed together in groups. 

 The larvae are black or leaden-coloured, marked as a rule 

 with }'ellow or orange. They cravrl freely about the 

 plants and consinne great numbers of Aphides and other 

 Insects. The pupar are attached to the upper or under- 

 sides of the leaves and are broad black objects marked 

 with cream-colour or \-ellow. I'he adult Lady Birds 

 appear earh* m summer and are common objects of the 

 field and garden throughout the season. It is note- 

 worthy that the destructive Scale Insect Iccrya furchasi 

 which devastated the orange groves of California 

 has been almost entirely destroyed and checked by the 

 importation into America of an Australian Lady Bird 

 l\ oiUiS c jrdinalis. The Scale Insect has thus remained 

 permanently controlled, and the y o'iiiis Beetle is now a 

 regular resident in California. The orange Scale Insect 

 has been controlled by a similar measure m Florida, Xew 

 Zealand, Portugal, Ca|_>e Colon}', F ormosa, iigypt, h ranee, 

 and other countries. HOVERER FLIES belong to the family 

 of the S}U'phidce. They are often brilliantly coloured, 

 being black with yello'A bands, and have the appearance 

 of small Wasps. The}" hover m the air, remaining 

 stationar}', except for their vibrating wings, over one spot 

 for several minutes and then, darting away sudclenl}', 

 hover again over a fresh spot. The}' onl}' liy m stmshine, 

 and rest on leaves and flowers m dull and wet weather; 

 they feed mainly upon nectar. 3.Iost species of Hoverer 

 Flies lay their eggs among colonies of Aphides, and 

 their maggot-like larv^ on emerging feed voraciously 

 upon the latter. When fulrv fed the pupae are to be 

 found enclosed m membraneotis puparium on the leaves 

 and stomas of plants close to vmere the larvae lived. The 

 o:reater number of the members of this family are, there- 

 fore, beneficial Insects. 



