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are essentially of the highest interest and importance to agriculturists, 
florists, and mankind in general, from the fact that in their larval and 
pupal stages they feed on the pests termed Aphides. In those portions 
of the country devoted to the cultivation of hops, the Aphides , or “ Fly ” 
as they are sometimes called, do a vast amount of injury to the planta¬ 
tions, and the quality and quantity of the hop crop often depend on 
the repressive measures adopted to rid the vines of their tiny but 
numerous enemies. Yet, in spite of all precautionary measures, the 
Aphides , owing to their marvellous power of reproduction, continue 
year after year to flourish and multiply. As destroyers of Aphides the 
Ladybirds are undoubtedly the best servants possessed by the agricul¬ 
turist, as not only do they derive their sustenance from the Aphides , 
but they also destroy many more than are required for actual feeding 
purposes. It will thus be seen that the part played by the Ladybirds 
is of incalculable value, and that the species should in all stages be 
protected from wanton destruction. 
Number of Species. —In Dr. Sharp’s Catalogue , 1871, the division 
Coccinellidce comprised twelve genera, containing altogether forty-one 
species. In the Catalogue issued by Fowler and Matthews at the 
commencement of 1883, some thirteen genera were enumerated, and 
the species then known numbered forty-five. In the same year, how¬ 
ever, Dr. Sharp brought out a revised edition of his Catalogue , wherein 
the group was rearranged under sixteen genera, although the number of 
species remained the same as in Fowler and Matthews’ Catalogue. 
For many years British coleopterists laboured under the great 
disadvantage of not having a good handbook on this branch of 
Entomology ; but in 1887 the first volume of The Coleoptera of the 
British Islands was issued by Canon Fowler. In 1889, the third 
volume, which contains the Coccinellidce , made its appearance. The 
entire work is now completed. The alterations in the arrangement of 
the genera and species of the Coccinellidce were numerous. We find 
in Canon Fowler’s work that the group is now divided into two 
divisions, viz., Coccinellidce-Phytophagce , containing but a single species, 
and Coccinellidce-Aphidiphagce, comprising fifteen genera, and containing 
forty-two species. The total number of British species, despite the 
fact that a new species of Coccinella is incorporated in the group, is 
thus reduced to forty-three. This is accounted for in the following 
manner:—by transferring Alexia pilifera to the Endomychidce; by 
classing Exochomus nigromaculatus ( auritus ) as doubtfully British ; and 
by reducing Scymnus limbatus and S. scutellaris to the position of 
varieties only. As most of our species are sufficiently recognisable by 
the markings of the elytra, it is scarcely necessary to go into the matter 
of structural differences. 
Coccinellidce PhytophagcE. —The only species in this division, 
now called Subcoccinella z^-punctata, L., was formerly known in our 
lists as Lasia globosa, Schneid. The insect is very local. Unlike the 
other members of the British Coccinellidce , it is a plant feeder, and can 
be obtained in considerable numbers by using the sweeping-net in the 
localities where it occurs. I have found both larva and beetle on clover 
and other plants at Chattenden, Kent. Mr. Battley brought me some 
specimens from Southend; Mr. Newbery obtained it near Southampton; 
Mr. T. W. Hall captured a few specimens, singly or in pairs, in 
Hertfordshire, and also near London; Mr. A. Ford finds the species 
