July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 309 



Aspidiotus ancylus Putnam vs. circularis Fitch. 

 BY C. L. MARLATT. 



The possibility that Fitch's "circular bark-louse" Aspidiotus 

 circularis n. sp.* is identical with the insect so long known as 

 Putnam's scale (Aspidiotus ancylus Putn.) has been suggested 

 at various times, but no opportunity hitherto has offered to 

 definitely settle the point. The belief in this identity is sup- 

 ported by Fitch's description of circularis, which is short 

 enough to warrant quoting. 



"No. 139. Circular Bark Louse, Aspidiotus circularis, new 

 species. (Homoptera. Coccidae.) 



"On the bark of currant stalks in gardens of the city of 

 Albany, early in the spring, I have observed a minute circular 

 flat scale, only 0.03 in diameter, similar to a species named 

 Aspidiotus Nerii, but differently colored, being of the same 

 blackish brown hue with the surrounding bark and having 

 in the centre a smooth round wart-like elevation of a pale 

 yellow color." 



The MS. notes give, in addition to the above, the date of 

 collection received and exact locality, viz: "April 14, 1856, on 

 currant in Mr. Orcutt's garden, Albany." 



This description is not sufficient to admit of the accurate 

 identification of the insect, but Aspidiotus ancylus Putn. seemed 

 to best correspond, and the name circularis is doubtfully re- 

 ferred to an.cylus in Mrs. Fernald's Catalogue. 



The identity of these two insects is still further supported by 

 an examination of the large series of specimens representing 

 ancylus in the Department collection. The accumulation of 

 ancylus material by this Bureau, extending over twenty-eight 

 years, shows the currant to be a common food plant of the 

 species, and ancylus has been sent in on currant from twenty- 

 nine localities, eight of which are from central New York. 

 Furthermore, in response to a letter Doctor Felt sent to the 

 writer, all of his ancylus material on currant from Albany, 

 some five samples, all of which proved to be typical ancylus. 



The opportunity to settle the point beyond all peradventure 



* Third Report, No. 139, p. 108 (1856). 



