23 



lives between the leaf sheath and the flowering stems of the reed 

 Phalaris arnndinacea. This species will be described, elsewhere, 

 under the name Ps. phalaiidis. 



The genus Piipersia includes a number of small species, mostly 

 subterranean, many of which inhabit the nests of, or are associated 

 with, ants. Their characters aie so obscure that it would be useless 

 to attempt to distinguish them by their superficial appearance. They 

 are mostly to be found at the roots of plants and are often exposed 

 by turning over large stones. The males are unlcnown. The fol- 

 lowing species have been recorded from the British Isles : — eniopaea, 

 Newstead, siihtfrranea, Newstead, do)iis(horpei, Newstead, fortnicarii, 

 Newstead, toinliiiii, Newstead, halophila (Hardy), and scirpi, Green. 

 The last species occupies the crowns of the small rush — -Scirpns 

 cafspitosiia. 



Between the Oitheziinae and the foregoing subfamilies there is a 

 wide gap. In all the previous genera spiracles (in two pairs) are 

 present on the thorax only. In the Ortheziiiiae and following sub- 

 families abdominal spiracles also are present. With the Orfhcziinae, 

 also, we arrive at genera in which the males are provided with com- 

 pound eyes. The female insects are active in all stages. The dorsum 

 is more or less covered with compact and waxy lamellae, and there 

 is a marginal fringe of similar processes which increase in length 

 towards the posterior extremity, where they coalesce to form a cover- 

 ing to the ovisac. This ovisac is firmly attached to the body and is 

 carried about by the insect, the young larvae emerging through an 

 aperture at its hinder extremity. Males with compound eyes and a 

 caudal tuft of delicate filaments resembling spun glass. 



In the genus Orthezia we have adult females with 8- or 9-jointed 

 antennae, and tarsi distinctly divided from the tibiae. 



0. cataphracta (Shaw) (fig. 11 a). Under moss. Dorsal lamellae 

 of the adult female fiat, dense, plate-like, in two series. Legs 

 and antennae reddish brown. More common in Scotland 

 and the northern counties of England. 



0. nrticae (Linn.). On Stellaria holostea, Teiicriimi sajrodoiiia, 

 Artemisia and various other plants. Dorsal lamellae of adult 

 female prominent, more or less erect, in four series. Legs 

 and antennae dark brown. The sharply cut white lamellae 

 give the insect the appearance of being modelled in plaster 

 of paris. 



The genus yewsteadia is characterised by the females having 

 seven joints only in the antennae. The tarsi and tibiae are fused 

 together, without any recognisable division. 



jN'. ]iocc()sa (De Geer). Under moss. Dorsal lamellae of adult 

 female looser and more flocculent than those of our two 



