48 Transactions. — Zoology. 



each thread corresponds with one of the marginal spines, and 

 forms a more or less conspicuous fringe, the segments of which 

 are cylindrical tubes, not feather-shaped as in K. spinosus. 

 Test often absent on the adult female, and always fragmentary : 

 it is better observed on the second, or pupal stage, or on 

 the larva. 



Test of male white, thick, felted, oval, and convex, com- 

 pletely covering the pupa. Length about ^ inch. As the 

 test exhibits a kind of segmented appearance, with transverse 

 obscure grooves, it may at first sight be mistaken for a 

 dactylopid insect. 



Larva normal of the Lecanid group ; flat, elliptical, active, 

 exhibiting the abdominal cleft and lobes. Dorsal surface 

 covered with numerous spiny spinnerets, from which issue 

 the threads of the test and fringe. 



Female of the second (pupal) stage more or less elliptical, 

 slightly convex, reddish-brown in colour beneath the thin 

 white felted secretion, which often presents an obscurely 

 segmented appearance, due to the transverse rows of spiny 

 spinnerets. Dorsum covered thickly with these spines, which 

 are sub-cylindrical, with rounded tips, and spring from 

 tubercular bases. On the ventral surface many small spiny 

 hairs. Abdominal cleft normal, the lobes large. Meutum 

 monomerous, the tip bearing several hairs. Antennae of six 

 somewhat hairy joints. Feet with rather large femora ; 

 digitules all fine hairs. Anogenital ring bearing several 

 hairs. 



Adult female elliptical, convex, reddish-brown in colour, 

 hollow beneath ; usually affecting the twigs of the plant in 

 preference to the leaves. Apparently naked, but on close 

 inspection found to retain at least portions of the thin felted 

 secretion. Dorsum covered with great numbers of the spiny 

 prominent sub-cylindrical spinnerets ; ventral surface bearing 

 many small spiny hau"s. Antennre of seven joints (fig. 6). 

 Feet with large coxae and femora ; tibia a good deal shorter 

 than the tarsus ; lower digitules only fine hairs. 



Adult male reddish - brown in colour ; form normal of 

 Lecanidte. Two dorsal eyes, two ventral eyes, two ocelli. 

 Antennae ten-jointed, the last three moniUform ; second, third, 

 and fourth the longest. On the five last joints are several hairs 

 with clubbed extremities. Feet slender, hairy. Abdominal 

 spike rather strong and sharp ; and on each side of its base is a 

 broad tubercle bearhig two long setci3, which become joined in 

 long cottony " tails." 



Habitat. — On Olearia haastii, found as yet (in great numbers) 

 only on a plant cultivated in the Botanical Gardens, Wellington. 

 It is rapidly killing the shrub. 0. haastii is, I believe, an alpine 

 plant. 



