SHE-OAK SCALE. 59 



is often the case, this substance disappears. When fully 

 fed, the lower portion of the gall is completely rilled, and 

 doubtless gives to the insect its peculiar wad-like shape. 

 The trees attacked by these insects are often killed by 

 them, and the galls are frequently to be seen in immense 

 numbers. 



" Common as the females are, the male has never yet 

 been described, and has probably never been seen, although 

 it has been keenly searched for ; it will probably be much 

 the same, however, as many others of the same family. 



" Briefly summed up, the life history of this insect, 

 probably the most remarkable in Australia, if not in the 

 whole world, is as follows : — 



"1. Born in possession of six legs, two compound 

 eyes, a pair of antenna?, and with mouth parts. 

 " 2. Attacks bark, and causes compound galls to 



form. 

 " 3. Gains a tail, but loses its legs, antennae, eyes, 

 and mouth parts ; at this stage completely 

 cut off from the outer air. From now onwards 

 nourished through its skin. 

 " 4. Again changes its shape, tail becomes semi- 

 detached from the body, the upper surface of 

 which is marked by several concentric rings. 

 " 5. Females abundant ; male unknown." 

 It is fortunate for our orchardists that, although this 

 insect must have existed from the earliest times of fruit- 

 growing in Victoria, it has so far never been known to 

 attack fruit trees, or, in fact, introduced trees of any kind 

 whatever. This does not imply, however, that it may not 

 do so, like many other serious pests have done before, as 

 they may find an easier mode of living, viz., on introduced 

 fruit trees. 



In the early days of Victoria, the coast-line, say from 

 Brighton to Cape Schanck, was thickly studded with 

 She-oak trees, the drooping one (0. quadrivalvis) being the 



