404 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Adult female dull-red or yellowish-red or brownish, 

 globular or subellipticai ; diameter about ^V^^^- Abdomen 

 distinctly segmented. Antennas variable; in some species 

 they are almost if not quite wanting, being reduced to a mere 

 tubercle ; in others they are short and swollen, with very con- 

 fused joints (three? or six?) difficult to separate. Feet en- 

 tirely absent. Mentum distinctly biarticulate, rather large,, 

 and bifid at the tip. There are four large thoracic spiracles,, 

 each surrounded by a ring of circular glands. The epidermis 

 bears many small simple circular spinneret-orifices ; and on the 

 last three abdominal segments are some larger orifices. Ano- 

 genital ring small, simple, hairless. The whole body is much 

 wrinkled ; and on the dorsal abdomen there are four very 

 strong transverse chitinous bands, broad in the middle and 

 tapering to points at the ends ; the outer margin of each band 

 is smooth, the inner bearing on each side from four to eight 

 conspicuous crenulations. On the cephalic and thoracic mar- 

 gins are some short spines. 



The female of the second stage is circular, flattish dorsally 

 and ventrally, or subglobular ; diameter about -oV'^-' t)eing 

 thus rather larger than the adult. The colour is a dull- 

 yellow or grey. The rostrum and mentum are large ; the 

 antennae nearly completely atrophied. Feet absent. The 

 abdominal region has not been accurately observed, but I see 

 no trace of chitinous bands. 



Larva subellipticai, flattish, active ; length about -j/gin. 

 Abdomen ending in two conspicuous protruding anal tubercles 

 bearing spines and setae. Antennae of six rather thick and 

 somewhat confused joints, of which the fourth and fifth are 

 the shortest. Feet also rather thick ; all the four digitules 

 are fine hairs. In its later state the larva becomes more 

 elongated. 



Male pupa enclosed in a felted, yellowish, cylindrical sac 

 which has a small orifice at the posterior end ; length of the 

 sac about -^V^- -'■ h^-ve not observed the pupa itself. 



Adult male unknown. 



A minute scarlet Gamasid mite, about i^o^^- ^^^ length, is 

 very active in the burrows of this Coccid. I do not know how 

 far it may be occupied in feeding on the SphcBrococcus , but 

 possibly the difficulty which I have found in getting any 

 quite complete specimen of the second stage may be due to 

 the action of this mite. I have not observed any eggshells in 

 the cavities examined, though the insect is not, as far as I 

 can make out, viviparous ; and this again may be due to the 

 appetite of the Gamasid. 



Hab. In Australia, on Acacia longlfolia and on Eucalyptus 

 ohtusiflora. Specimens on both plants have been sent by Mr. 

 Froggatt from Hornsby, near Sydney. 



