SOUTH INDIAN COCCIDS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 623 



This insect is important from an economic point of view as it has been 

 noted on a variety of plants in different places and in some causing an ap- 

 preciable amount of damage. Has been noted to cause severe damage 

 to young arecapalms. 



4. Hemichionaspis thece, Mask.* 



This insect resembles ' H, aspidistras ' very closely. The male Bcales are 

 arranged on the leaves in definite groups and are often found far more 

 numerous than the female scales. Found on pomegranate leaves — Coimba- 

 tore and Tea in Assam. In Assam it is often found to be serious especially 

 on young tea bushes. ]t is likely that the insect is preseent in the tea 

 districts of South India also. 



5. Aspidiotus destructor, Sign.* 



Found on cocoanut leaves all along the West Coast, in Tinnevelly and in 

 Coimbatore. The transparent yellowish white oval scales are found in large 

 patches on fronds that are badly infested. In some places some appreci- 

 able damage is done by this insect. The effect of the infestation consists 

 in the leaves getting faded and shrivelled up and the colour turns to a 

 sickly pale yellowish white. The insect has also been noted on pepper, 

 Para rubber, Loranthus, etc. 



6. Aspidiotus camelUce, Sign.* 



This is the well known ' yellow bark louse ' of tea. The scales are oval 

 and have a pale yellow colour ; they resemble small oyster shells over- 

 lapping one another. Noted on elm in Ootacamund. Also recorded on 

 Grevillea, Cinchona, and Michelia in Ceylon. This is often a bad pest of 

 young tea on the Nilgiris ; in these cases the upper shoots are covered over 

 by the scales and killed outright. The scales can be easily made out on 

 infested plants due to their conspicuous appearance. 



7. Aspidiotus (Chrysomphalus) aurantii. Mask.* 



This is the citrus red scale of American states, but it has not yet become 

 so serious a pest in India. Has been found on Ilose bushes, Malabar, and 

 on Jasmine leaves, Godavari District. I have not yet found it on citrtis in 

 South India. It has been recorded on Agave, Pomelo and Orange plants in 

 Ceylon. This is evidently one of those insects regarding which orange cul- 

 tivators may be warned. On rose bushes it is found very bad, killing shoots, 

 stem and leaves of infested plants. The circular greyish brown transparent 

 scales cover the shoots and foliage in masses. 



8. Aspidiotxis ficus, Ashmead.* 



'Chis is another well known insect and has an equally wide distribution. 

 The small more or less conical purplish scales are often found crowded 

 together on citrus leaves. Noted on Ficus in Anantapur Manfj-o in Coim- 

 batore, Citrus in Malabar and Nilgiris and on Pandanus in Cochin, This 

 has not been found to be so bad as ' A. aurantii.' 



9. Mytilaspis piperis. Green.* 



This is the only species of the genus of mussel scales that has been found 

 to be a pest so far. It is noted on black pepper infesting the tender vines 

 and the foliage in North Malabar and "VVynaad. In some plantations in 

 Wynaad and Travancore severe damage has been recorded. An infested 

 vine cannot easily be made out as the colour and general appearance of the 

 scales resemble the corrugated surface of the vine. 



