Two New Fungi Parasitic on Scale Insects. 647 



{Aspidiotus coccineusj. Seeing the great variety of scales upon 

 which this species is found it seems by no means improbable that 

 one or other of the new ones here recorded may be found to 

 possess some economic importance. I hope to be in a position to 

 carry out cultural experiments with both of these fungi, and so test 

 their practical value in the destruction of scale insects. No benefit 

 is likely to accrue from haphazard methods, hence careful study and in- 

 vestigation must go hand in hand with the provision of the necessary 

 facilities for work of this nature. 



The Tasmanian Species. 



The first of the new species was kindly sent to me for naming by 

 Mr. A. M. Lea, Government Entomologist of Tasmania, upon an 

 undetermined scale of a Kucalypt. It appears in the form of small 

 pink tufts protruding from beneath the scale, and continues its growth 

 even after the bark is removed from the tree, as a number of these 

 pink tufts developed on the specimens sent from Tasmania when kept 

 moist, thus showing how readily it might be propagated. 



The technical description is as follows : — 



Microcera tasmaniinsis n. sp. 



Conspicuous salmon-pink tubercles of cheesy consistency, either globose or cup- 

 shaped, shortly stalked or subsessile, generally confluent in irregular masses and 

 enveloping scale-insects, 1-lJ mm. in extent. 



Conidiophores pink in the mass, hyaline separately, branching unilaterally or 

 alternately or often bifurcating, bearing conidia at apex of each branch, 2 J microns* broad. 

 Conidia hyaline, fusiform, generally curved, 3-septate, not constricted at septa, 

 40-45 X 5^-6 microns. 



On ^s/iViJo/Ms 5^. on Eucalyptus bark. July 1901. Tasmania (Lea). 



It differs from M. coccophila in the conidia being 3-septate and 

 only about half the length and in the spore-tufts being salmon-pink 

 instead of deep brick-red. I am indebted to Mr. C. C. Brittlebank 

 for the drawings which are reproduced in the first plate. 



The Victorian Species. 



The second species was collected by Mr Chas. French, Jnr., on 

 mussel-scale infesting the scrub boxwood near the Yarra at Ivanhoe. 

 The bright pink tufts or tubercles were exceedingly numerous on 

 many branches, nearly every scale being attacked so that the 

 affected shrub was a very conspicuous object. 



Microcera mytilaspis n. sp. 



Spore-tufts bright salmon-pink, fleshy or waxy, pulvinate, confluent in irregularly 

 rounded or elongated disciform tubercles 1-2 mm. diam. surrounded by barren filaments 

 which separate at the top so as to expose conidia. Conidiophores pink in mass, 

 hyaline individually, septate, 2-3 microns broad, very long and branching mostly 

 unilaterally and bearing conidia at apex. 



Conidia hyaline, fusiform, curved, acute at both ends, 5-6 septate at maturity, not 

 constricted at septa, 45-60 x 5-6 microns. 



On scale on Hymenanthera dentata R.Br. 



This differs from all the described species in the size and septa- 



tion of the spores. 



A micron is approximately ag ^Q g of an inch. 



