PEEDACEOUS ENEMIES. 
129 
and, as soon as hatched, the larvae seem possessed of an insatiable 
appetite, devouring aphidids or even eggs and larvaB of their own 
species if no plant-lice are at hand. Mr. Kelly has found that an 
*/ 
Fig. 38. — The convergent lady-beetle (Hippodam id con vergens), an enemy of the spring grain-aphis: a, Adult; 
b, pupa; c, larva. Enlarged. (From Chittenden.) 
adult ladybird (Hippodamia convergens) (fig. 38) will devour from 15 
to 30 plant-lice in a day. Mr. S. J. Hunter, in ' ' The Green Bug and its 
Enemies," page 6, states that instances have come under his observa- 
tion where as many as 100 have been devoured in a single day by an 
adultlady-beetle. The larvse when nearly 
grown are probably able even to exceed 
this record. In one of Mr. Kelly's experi- 
ments a single beetle deposited as many 
as 264 eggs, thus showing that this lady- 
bird is very prolific. When all of these 
facts are considered it is 
easy to see that the lady- 
beetles are rather formida- 
ble enemies of Toxoptera. 
Hippodamia convergens 
appeared to be by far the 
most abundant ladybird 
in the Southwest in 1907. 
Coccinella 9-notata (figs. 39, 40) and Megilla maculata 
(fig. 41) were also quite abundant. Coccinella abdomi- 
nalis was present in less abundance. Adalia fiavomac- 
ulata DeG. (fig. 42), with its larvae, has been sent to 
the bureau as an enemy of Toxoptera in the Orange 
Free State, South Africa. 
Syrphid Flies. 
All through the Southwest in 1907 syrphids were very abundant 
and were an important factor in the control of Toxoptera. 
These insects are beautiful two-winged flies with prominent golden 
bands across the abdomen. They are always present in mild weather 
26675°— Bull. 110—12 9 
Fig. 39.— The nine-spotted lad y-beetle 
{Coccinella 9-notata), an enemy of 
the spring grain-aphis: Adult. En- 
larged. (From Chittenden.) 
Fig. 40.— The nine- 
spotted lady-bee- 
tle {Coccinella 9- 
notata), an enemy 
of the spring grain- 
aphis: Larva. En- 
larged. (From 
Chittenden.) 
