390 Transactions. — Zoology. 



spines ; but in the terminal lobes and serrations the insect 

 is identical with the type. The groups of spinnerets have 

 usually more numerous orifices, the lower laterals having 

 36-42 ; but this is a very variable character in most Diaspids. 

 Curiously, in three specimens examined the right upper 

 lateral group was entirely absent, or was represented by 

 only a single orifice. 



Hab. In Northern India, on tea ; no special locality was. 

 mentioned. If, as is quite possible, the tea-plants in question 

 should have been imported from Japan, the relationships of 

 this variety may be easily accounted for. 



I have only lately been informed that Professor Sasaki, of 

 Tokyo, has described my C. lorunicola under the name of 

 Diasjns 'palclliformis. In my original description (Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst., vol. xxvii., p. 49) I mentioned how nearly the 

 puparium approached that of a Diasjjis, but gave reasons for 

 not considering the species as of that genus. I have not yet 

 had an opportunity of seeing Professor Sasaki's paper, nor do 

 I know whether it has priority over miiie or not. But I am 

 obliged to adhere to my opinion for the present, and leave 

 both the species and the variety in Chionasjns. 



Chionaspis spartinse, Comstock, var. natalensis, var. nov. 



Plate XIX., figs 9-11. 



Puparium of female white, very elongated, narrow, sub- 

 cylindrical ; length about xV^^- > width about -gV^- Pellicles 

 terminal, small, yellow. 



Puparium of male white, elongated, cylindrical, carinated ; 

 length about ^^yin. 



Adult female pale-yellow ; form normal of the genus. 

 Abdomen ending in four very small lobes, of Nvhich the two 

 median are the largest ; the two others are almost obsolete. 

 The median lobes are roundly triangular, divergent ; the outer 

 pair are denticulate. The margin is broken by small serra- 

 tions, and bears a few spiny hairs, of which two on each side 

 are close to the median lobes. There are five groups of spin- 

 nerets : upper group with 10 orifices ; upper laterals 20-24 ; 

 lower laterals 16-20. Many large oval pores. 



The larva is small, elliptical, active ; length about xto'"- 

 The general characters are normal, but the last joint of the 

 antenna is rather thicker and more clavate than usual amongst 

 the DiaspidbKi. 



Adult male unknown. 



Hab. In Natal, on grass. My specimens were sent by 

 Mr. A. M. Cooper, from Richmond, Natal. 



This insect is very close to C. spartime, and I think the 

 chief difference is in the numbers of tlie spinneret-orifices, 

 which are fewer in var. natalensis than in the type. Com- 



