534 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
small, oval, very shining insects, found in fungi and rotten 
wood. The elytra are broadly truncate behind, not covering 
the entire abdomen. 
The family P HALACRID^E (Pha-lac'ri-dae) includes a small 
number of very small, convex, shining black beetles, which 
are sometimes two-spotted or tipped with red. They are 
found on flowers and sometimes under bark. 
The family CORYLOPHIMS (Cor-y-loph'i-dae) includes 
minute beetles found under damp bark and in decaying 
vegetable matter. The body is oval or rounded, and in 
many species is clothed with a grayish pubescence. The 
wings are wide, and fringed with long hairs. About twenty- 
five North American species are known. 
Family CocciNELLlDiE (Coc-ci-nel'li-dae). 
The Lady-bugs . 
These insects are well known to nearly every child under 
the popular name given above. They are more or less 
nearly hemispherical, generally red or yellow, with black 
spots, or black, with white, red, or yellow spots. 
The larvae occur running about on foliage; they are 
often spotted with bright colors and clothed with 
warts or with spines (Fig. 641). When ready to 
change to a pupa the larva fastens itself by its tail 
to any convenient object, and the skin splits open 
f » g . 641. on the back. Sometimes the pupa state is passed 
within this split skin, and sometimes the skin is forced 
back and remains in a little wad about the tail (Fig. 
642). 
With very few exceptions, the lady-bugs are pre- Fig. 642. 
daceous, both in the larval and adult states. They feed 
upon small insects and upon the eggs of larger species. 
The larvae of certain species are known as “niggers” by 
hop-growers, and are greatly prized by them ; for they are 
very destructive to the hop-louse. On the Pacific coast the 
lady-bugs are well known as the most beneficial of all insects 
