306 
COLEOPTERA. 
Stettin er, Ent., Zeit. 1908). We may divide the family into the Cocci - 
nellincB insectivorous, Epilachnince herbivorous; the former may 
be divided again. Of the Coccinellini, 84 species are recorded, of the 
ChilocoriniZ 3 , of the Scymnini (Scymnus)29, Exoplectrini (Vedalia, etc.) 
10, and of the Rhizobiini (Aults) five species. In the Epilachnince 38 
species are described. These beetles are extremely variable in size, 
colouring and markings ; climate exerts a marked influence on them, 
and it is possible the number of distinct species is not really so large. 
Coccinella includes three common species, two of which are wide¬ 
spread in our limits. C. septempunctata , Linn., is the abundant Seven- 
spotted Ladybird which is found on wheat and mustard. The larvae 
are slate coloured with yellow spots, very active and feeding voraciously 
on the wheat aphis ( Macrosiphum granarium , Kby.) and the Mustard 
aphis ( Aphis brassicce, Linn.). The beetle is red with three black spots 
on each elytron and a joint one at the scutellum, with some white on 
the prothorax and head. In the hills, as in Europe, the size of the 
black spots is constant; in the plains it varies immensely and some 
beetles have them so large that they fuse and almost cover the elytra. 
Like their prey, this species is found only in the cold weather in the 
plains ; the beetles have been found to go into dense grass and other 
sheltered spots in March where they apparently remain until the fol¬ 
lowing cold weather. This species is a very important check on the 
increase of the Aphides it feeds on and one of the most economically 
valuable insects in India. In the Punjab (and rarely further South), 
we find also the Eleven Spotted species, C. undecimpunctata, Linn., 
with a similar life-history and habits. Both are palearctic insects 
which have spread into the Punjab and further south and adapted 
themselves to the conditions by a prolonged period of rest; the evid¬ 
ence points to this period of rest being passed in the imago stage. 
This species has only once been found in Behar while it is very common 
in the Punjab. Its usual southern limit appears to be in the United 
Provinces. 
C. repanda , Thunb., is a widespread insect in the plains, the spots 
in the form of three black curved bands and a small central spot; it is 
found abundantly in the cold weather feeding on mustard aphis, 
(Aphis brassicce), and is reported to feed on Aleurodes bergi, Zehn., in Java. 
