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ON A NEW SPECIES OF COCCID ON FERN-ROOTS. 



By W. M. Maskell. 



(Communicated by A. Sidney Olliff.) 



(Plate VII. figs. 1-4.) 



I received some months ago from Mr. A. Sidney OllifF six 

 specimens of a coccid found at Kiirrajong Heights in New 

 South Wales by Messrs. J. J. Fletcher and C. T. Musson on 

 roots of Doodia aspera. Various causes have prevented me from 

 thoroughly examining these specimens until lately, but having 

 now been able to do so, I find that they belong undoubtedly to 

 the Lecanid group, and their subterranean habit and six-jointed 

 antennse place them in the genus Lecanopsis, Targioni-Tozzetti, of 

 which two or three European species are known. The present 

 insecb differs from these in size and colour, as well as in its mucli 

 more convex and rugose form; and I therefore propose to consider 

 it as a new species. 



Group LECANIDTN^. 



Subdivision LECANID.E. 



Genus Lecanopsis, Targioni-Tozzetti. 



Insects subterranean, attached to roots of grass or other plants ; 

 adult females presenting the normal abdominal cleft and lobes, and 

 with anteniiie of six joints. Feet present. Mentum monomerous. 



Lecanopsis filicum, sp.nov. 



Adult female dark red-brown ; dorsum very convex, the heigiit 

 being nearly equal to the length ; ventral surface flat or slightly 

 concave, with small patches of white cotton between it and the 

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