UPON SCALE-INSECTS. 25 



in the Island before. Hence it is just possible that this 

 coccid with its fungous parasites had been imported from 

 India upon the bamboo. 



The Nectria as already pointed out occurred invariably 

 on the upper surface of the leaves. Some of the scales thus 

 situated were covered with a thin white mycelium. From 

 beneath them protruded light red bodies, the sporodochia. 

 On older leaves deep pink nearly spherical bodies, the peri- 

 thecia, were found similarly placed, instead (fig. 17). 



Conidial stage (Fusarium). — The pale red sporodochia had 

 practically no stalk (stroma). They did not stand erect, but 

 grew out horizontally for a short distance (about 0*18 mm.) 

 from the rim of the scale. Two or three were usually the 

 number to a single scale, but as many as five were seen. 

 Often one, resembling a fish-tail, protruded from the pos- 

 terior end of the insect (fig. 18). 



The conidia were similar to those of N. coccidophthora 

 already described, and measured 100-1 10 x 5'5-7-5/x. Their 

 septa varied from 5-9. 



Ascus-stage.— The perithecia occurred solitary or in groups* 

 of 4 or 5. They were broadly ovate in shape and bright 

 pink in colour, measuring 255 M in height and rather less in 

 breadth. The ascus of the usual type measured 115 x 13'5/x : 

 the ascospore,elliptical and somewhat pointed, 22-27 x9-10j« 



(fig. 19). 



In no marked feature except in general appearance does 

 it differ from the common Ceylon form. Its sporodochia 

 are not so prominent, do not stand erect, and have no stalk ; 

 but the conidia themselves are almost identical. The peri- 

 thecia and asci are also very similar, but the ascospore 

 is distinctly larger. In this latter respect it agrees more 

 closely with the description of N. coccorum* which has 

 ascospores measuring 22-25 x 5/,. It also corresponds with 

 this species by having its perithecia solitary or in tiniall 

 groups, and by the absence of stroma. 



* Saccardo, S.F. Addit to vols. I.-IV., p. 203. 

 9(1)06 W 



