COCCINELLIDiE. 
307 
Tliea cincta, Fabr., is a round yellowish insect found feeding on the 
fruiting bodies (Perithecia) of the fungus that attacks mulberry leaves 
(Phyllactinia corylea, Karst.). Larvae were reared upon this material 
and a great number of individuals were found on the mulberry bushes. 
It presumably has other food also. 
Chilomenes sexmaculata, Fabr.. is the commonest species in the 
plains. It is a small rounded beetle, varying in colour from red to 
canary yellow, usually yellow. It deposits eggs on the leaves of the 
cotton plant, among or near an aphis colony. Each egg is oval, almost 
cigar-shaped, about one-twentieth of an inch long, light yellow in 
colour. (Plate XVII.) In captivity a beetle lays about 90 eggs in clus¬ 
ters of about 9 each. These eggs hatch in four to five days, a small 
spinose larva appearing which at once begins to feed on aphis; it runs 
actively about seeking aphides and crushed skins of the victims testify 
to its rapacity. In captivity each larva required about 200 aphides a 
day and lived thus for 10 to 13 days. The young larva is black, with 
long legs, the body tapering to the hind end ; as it grows older, 
white spots appear and the full-grown larva is black with yellow and 
white blotches. Pupation takes place on the leaf, the larva fixing 
itself by the tail, the pupa only partly emerging from the cast skin in 
some cases. The beetle emerges after four to six days and also feeds on 
aphis. Besides the Cotton Aphis [Aphis gossypii, Glov.), this species 
feeds on Aphis cardui , Linn., and on Aphis adusta, Zehnt. When food 
is not available, the beetle waits, hiding in shelter until food is again 
forthcoming and eggs can be laid. These periods of rest may be of 
many weeks’ duration, but if food is available, the species goes on breed¬ 
ing except in the very cold weather. 
Scymnus includes the smallest species, 
round pubescent beetles of usually dull brown 
or black colour. Scymnus xerampelinus , Muls., 
is common, feeding on cotton aphis (Aphis 
gossypii , Glov.); the larva is clothed in 
white waxy processes which make it look like 
a mealybug ; a single larva required 75 
aphides daily for its food and lived 7 to 10 
days. The pupa remains in the cast larval 
in, emerging as a beetle after a week. This species occurs with 
Fig. 186.—Scymnus 
XERAMPELINUS, x 8. 
