Maskell. — On Coccididffi. 37 



is apparently never quite complete ; but the feet differ con- 

 siderably, and are sufficient to distinguish the two species. 



Genus Eipeksia, Signoret. 



This genus was formed to include the Dactyloinda with 

 antenna3 of six joints. I have been frequently asked the 

 meaning of tlie word ; and the only explanation I can give is 

 that it is an anagram of the name of M. Ed. Perris, a friend of 

 Dr. Signoret, to whom he had already dedicated two species — 

 WestwoocUa perrisii and Porphyrophora j^srrisii — and whose 

 name he preferred on this occasion to twist round as above. 

 I do not know any other derivation. 



Ripersia rumicis, sp. nov. Plate VIII., figs. 1-3. 



Adult female dull dirty-yellow, or yellowish-white, sub- 

 terranean, naked or excreting only a very thin white meal ; 

 form irregularly elliptical, obscurely segmented : average 

 length about ^V^^- Antennae very short, placed very close 

 together at the cephalic extremity ; with six joints, of which 

 the first two are equal and moderately large, the next three 

 very short, the sixth the longest and fusiform. Mentum pro- 

 bably trimerous. Feet very short : tibia only slightly longer 

 than the tarsus ; the tibia has a spine at the extremity. The 

 feet are somewhat far apart, the anterior pair being placed 

 near the base of the antennae, the second pair med.ian, the 

 posterior pair at about two-thirds the whole length. Anal 

 tubercles very small, setiferous ; anogenital ring with six 

 hairs. 



Second stage of female rather smaller than the adult, of 

 similar colour and form, and with antennae of six joints. 



Larva and male not observed. 



Hab. In New Zealand, underground, amongst roots of 

 Humex acetosella (garden sorrel) : my specimens are from 

 the Eeefton district, sent by Mr. Eaithby. 



This is a very peculiar little insect, which, from its very 

 small size and dull colour, is by no means easy of detection. 

 Mr. Eaithby informed me that it was only from the little 

 patches of white meal noticed in the earth while digging that 

 he was led to discover the Coccid ; and in dry earth, after 

 having been kept for some time, it is only by some patient 

 search under a lens that the insects can be picked out. I was 

 at first somewhat disposed to look upon this form with six- 

 jointed antennae as possibh/ the second stage of Dactylopius 

 po<x, another subterranean New Zealand Coccid ; but the 

 position of the antennae and feet seemed to forbid this, and 

 the finding of some specimens with enclosed eggs settled the 

 matter entirely. The species is clearly a distinct one, and I 

 know of no other Coccid in which the antennas are placed so 



