Maskell. — On Coccidae. 67 



have seen no Coccid that is so destructive to trees as this 

 species. During the summer the trees were actually loaded 

 down with Dactylopius." It is quite satisfactory that he 

 continues, "Fortunately the danger is over now, as we are 

 sending out colonies of the best enemy for the same that can 

 be found in Australia " (where his letter was written). 



I am told that some one in America has informed the 

 Sandwich Island people that this insect is a Bhizococcus, 

 which is undoubtedly an error. 



Section IDIOCOCCINiE. 

 Genus Sph.erococcus. 

 Sphserococcus stypheliae, sp. now Plate VII., figs. 1-4. 



Adult feniale covered by a semi-globular test of wax, which 

 is yellow or with a faint pink tinge, though the general ap- 

 pearance on a twig is blackish, on account of the usual fungus 

 growths. Diameter of test averaging about ^in. The sur- 

 face is rather rough. 



Male pupa covered also by a waxy test, probably (but not 

 certainly) similar to that of the female, but smaller. 



Adult female dark-purple or dark-brown, filling the test ; 

 the dorsal region convex, the ventral flat or slightly concave. 

 Diameter averaging oV n - Antennae atrophied, represented by- 

 two very minute tubercles. Feet also atrophied ; but their 

 places are occupied by six swollen tubercular short processes, 

 which have much the appearance of the "lac-tubes" of 

 Tachardia, having an orifice at the end, and being covered 

 with numbers of circular glands. The rostrum is subcentral ; 

 the mentum is short and dimerous ; setae short. The anal 

 ring is small, circular, and hairless ; anal tubercles absent. 

 Epidermis covered with numbers of circular spinneret-orifices, 

 which are most numerous near the margins. 



Female of the second stage not observed. 



Larva yellow, flattish, active ; length about ^yin. Form 

 elliptical, tapering posteriorly. Antennae of six short joints, 

 subequal in length, but somewhat tapering. Feet moderate ; 

 digitules fine hairs. Mentum dimerous. Anal tubercles pro- 

 minent, with moderate setae. The margin of the body has a 

 row of spines, which, in life, bear a fringe of short curling 

 white wax. 



Adult male brownish-red ; length about Jg-in. Antennae of 

 ten joints. Feet normal. Anal spike short. 



Hab. In Australia, on Styphelia (Monotoca) elliptica. Mr. 

 Froggatt has sent me specimens from Vaucluse, near Sydney. 



The very peculiar processes which take the place of the 

 feet in this insect clearly distinguish it. I had much doubt, 

 when first examining it, whether it might not be a quite 



