COCCINELLA SP. 320 

winter, had themselves increased in incredible numbers. By 
the middle of April the forests were full of larvae, pupze and lady- 
bird beetles; the former were to be seen running agilely over the 
trees in quest of their prey whilst the two latter were tobe found 
collected in masses on the leaves. The writer madea tour round 
the whole of the Siwalik forests and everywhere this insect was 
swarming, the leaves being weighed down by the red masses 
of the beetles clinging during the heat of the day to their 
under surfaces. Asa result of this great increase of its enemy 
the scale was decimated and everywhere, once the state of 
affairs taking place was understood, the sucked out and dry 
shrivelled skins of the scales could be found plentifully, The 
numerous empty white skins of the third moult of the 2 scales 
proved that they had reached this stage in their life history in 
safety and in enormous numbers—numbers which were no 
longer present in the forest in the middle of April though it 
must be allowed that the insect was still plentiful. There is no 
doubt that it is the coccinellid larva that is the chief decimating 
agent, but it is probable that the attacks of the beetle, taking 
place as they do when the @ scale has reached maturity and is 
pairing, so weaken it as to have an injurious effect upon the 
eggs laid. This point requires further observation. 
As is to be expected from the above it was particularly 
noticeable that in those forests where the beetle was swarming 
in the largest numbers the living scales were by no means 
numerous, whilst dried, dead, shrivelled skins were to be found 
on the rough bark or in its interstices, and littering the ground 
amongst dead leaves, stones and other refuse. 
Protection. 
This coccinellid has proved itself a valuable insect in the 
forest. It would not seem to require much protection in 
either its larval or beetle stages. It is probable, however, that 
its pupal stage, which is so easily discernible, must suffer from 
attacks of birds unless its colouring and peculiar shape serve to 
protect it from these. It is necessary, however, that we should 
know exactly where the insect lays its eggs, as it would not 
