16 



pupa is covered by a characteristic puparinm, usually composed of 

 translucent wax, and symmetrically divided into definite plates 

 (fig. 5 d). Limbs and antennae generally present in all stages of 

 the female insect, but sometimes vestigial or (rarely) absent in the 

 adult. 



Genus Lecaniion. Adult female naked. Most of our British 

 species are strongly convex and the skin of the dorsum becomes 

 densely chitinous and rigid, to form a protective covering for the 

 eggs. Seven species come within our category. 



L. persicae (Fab.) (fig. 5 h). This is one of our commonest species and 

 infests a large number of garden and wild plants, amongst 

 whichmay be mentioned peach, vose,Cotoneaster, Iiobiiiia,Ribes, 

 broom, hawthorn, etc. The adult female is of a reddish 

 brown colour, strongly convex, slightly longer than broad, 

 with rugose sides, from 8 mm. to 5 mm. in diameter. The 

 old females are mere shells, covering a mass of pale pink eggs. 

 They are sometimes densely crowded upon the stems and 

 branches of plants grown in sheltered situations, such as 

 peach and rose trees trained against a wall. Newstead dis- 

 tinguishes two forms — typical persicae and var, mrothaiirni ; 

 but I must confess that I find it difficult to separate them. 

 There is, however, a question whether typical persicae occurs 

 in this country, if a varietal name is necessary, it seems to 

 me that ruhiniae of Douglas has preference over mrotliamni 

 of the same author, 



L. persicae-cnichdii. I have described, under this name, a form that 

 was found infesting the foliage of a species of Aralia that 

 was growing permanently in the open air. It is distinguished 

 by its more depressed form and paler colour. The mature 

 females are never so densely chitinized as in the type. 



L. capreae (Linn.). This species also has a wide range of host plants. 

 It occurs more commonly upon apple, hawthorn, hazel, horse 

 chestnut, and elm. It is of a sub-spherical form, the sides 

 often projecting beyond the base. It is usually of a paler 

 shade of brown than is the preceding species. 



L, bituberculatiiiii, Targ, Confined to the hawthorn {CrataeifHs 

 oxyacanthae). It is often very abundant upon the smaller 

 branches of old hawthorn hedges. Though one of the largest 

 of our British species it is so well "camouflaged" by Br 

 variegated pattern of black, white, brown, crimson, and 

 olivaceous tints, that it is extremely difticult to detect, especi- 

 ally as it usually takes up a position at the base of a thorn 

 or a bud. It is of a strongly convex form and is well 

 characterised by the presence of two prominent, rounded 

 knobs on the dorsum. 



L. transvittatutn, Green, A rare species, recorded from birch only. 



