THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 29 



and none of (he other oaks near by gave me a single specimen, and I have never 

 happened on them again. In Maine I have beaten the rare Enchodes sericea 

 Hald., Aficrobregma emarginatum Duft., Oligomerus obtusiis Lcc. and Elater 

 apicatus Say from the dead lower limbs of large sugar maples. 



A final kick at a dead stub brings down the whole top smashing into the 

 umbrella with disastrous results and, casting away the now utterly u.seless 

 implement, I plod along in the pauring rain over the railroad ties towards home. 

 When I arri^•e there I am soaking wet but happy in the memories of the day's 

 experiences, and each time I open my boxes these memories will be reflected 

 from the shining armor of Dicena pugionata and Chrysobothris harnsi. 



NOTES ON COCCID.E. Y. (HEMIPTERA). 



BY G. F. FERRIS, 



Stanford University, California. 



(Continued from Can. Ent., Vol. 51, p 253.) 

 Genus Protodiaspis Ckll. 

 The original description of this genus was not sul^ciently detailed, and 

 much doubt has existed as to its exact nature. Through the kindness of Pro- 

 tessor C ockerell I have been enabled to examine a slide mount of P. pantila 

 C kll., the type of the genus, and find it possible to extend somewhat our knowl- 

 edge of this and related species. 



The original description of the genus was as follows: "A genus of Diaspins 

 secretmg no scale- but the females enveloped in cottony secretion, the male 

 pupa resembling those of Diaspis, but extremely short. " No groi p^d circum- 

 genital glands." To this genus there have previously been referred, (with 

 some doubt) Protodiaspis anomala Green, P. tridenlata Ferris, P. edentita Wvvl'^ 

 P. agrifolice Essig and Fiorinia syncaripcB Maskell." Of these only P. agrifoH^ 

 Essig can be considered as congeneric with the type, and I am here namJno a 

 new genus for the others. "^ 



I am unable at present to offer any very precise definition of the -em s 

 Protodiaspis, partly because of certain possible errors in the original de-cripticn 

 that I am not able to clear up, partially because of the need of more information 

 concernmg the immature stages and partially because of the hazy limits of 

 certain other genera. I present, however, the following characterization, this 

 being based upon P. parvula, P. agrifolice and two other species that I am here 

 describing as new. 



Coccidae referable to the subfamily Diaspina>, secreting a distinct scale or 

 possibly m some cases merely loose secretion; the scale of the female circular 

 with the exuviffi central, that of the male elongate with the exuvia at one end 

 in both sexes white; second exuvia of female large but not at all, or at the mosl^ 

 only partially, enclosing the adult; tubular ducts (Fig. IB) of the type seen in 

 Dmspn and related genera, all small, tho.se of the pygidium scattered; pygidium 

 usually weakly or not at all chitinized; circumgenital pores present or absent; 

 lobes of the pygidium present or absent. Small species (about .5 mm. long) 

 as far as known infesting only oaks. 



February, 1920 



