221 
Aspidiotus destructor Sign., is by far the most pernicious of the scales 
which attack the coconut in the Philippines. It most frequently occurs 
on young trees having from one to five years’ growth, in many cases 
completely covering the under surfaces of all the leaves, giving them a 
characteristic yellow tinge. It is certain that it is attacked by a 
Hymenopterous parasite, as female puparia have been found showing the 
exit holes of the adult parasite, but as yet the latter itself has not been 
discovered. A small Coccinellid beetle, Scymnus sp., is a voracious feeder 
upon the transparent scale, the adults as well as the larve of this species 
frequently being encountered in considerable numbers upon coconut 
leaves which are covered with the scales. A description of this insect 
follows : 
Scymnus sp. 
Larva.—Length 1.75 millimeters, width 1.01 millimeters, exclusive of the pure- 
white waxen tufts which project from the front, sides, and posterior margins of 
the body as shown by Plate VIII, fig. 2. The larva of this beetle when once known 
can easily be distinguished from all others which might be found among scale 
insects in this region. It is extremely active, running from place to place and 
greedily gnawing open the delicate scale in order to obtain the insect which lies 
beneath. The body is pale yellow with a greyish tinge. 
Pupa.—Length 1.25 millimeters, of a light ocher-yellow. This insect pupates 
within the larval skin, as do many species of the family. In this case the skin 
splits along the median dorsal line, exposing the pupa. 
Adult (Pl. VIII, fig. 1).-—-Length 1.35 millimeters, width 1 millimeter, of a 
dark brown, almost black, with a light-brown discal spot on each elytron. In 
some specimens this spot is sharply, in others ill, defined. The entire body covered 
with a fine, white, pubescence. Palpi, apices of femora, tibie and tarsi, brownish 
ocher. (See Pl. VIII, figs. 3 and 4 for antenna and palpi.) 
Habits, This beetle, the adult as well as the larva, feeds on many species of 
Coccide but has been found in greatest abundance in colonies of Aspidiotus de- 
structor Sign. 
Chrysomphalus propsimus Banks, 
Chrysomphalus propsimus Banks, Phil. Journ. Sci. (1906), 1, No. 3, p. 230. (Pls. Iand IT.) 
This scale bears a general resemblance to C. aonidum Linn., but its 
color and size, together with its apparent predilection for the coconut 
palm, upon which it is always found, make its identification as a 
distinct species a matter of some doubt. The scales crowd themselves 
upon both surfaces of the leaves of neglected or deformed trees and 
frequently as many as + or 5 are found overlapping each other. In 
Manila they breed with great rapidity and soon cover the leaflets and 
even the petioles. The same species has been encountered in great 
numbers upon the betel palm (Areca catechu L.) at San Miguel de 
Mayumo, Province of Bulacan. It may be distinguished from other 
scale insects which might be found upon the coconut by the decided, 
shining red-orange color of the pellicles. The male scales are infre- 
quently met with in comparison with those of the female. (See Pl. X.) 
