Aspidiottts. 5 1 



ASPIDIOTUS CYANOPHYLLI, Signoret. 



(Plate IX.) 

 Aspidiotus cyanophylli^ Sign., Essat, 1869, p. 119. 



Female puparium at first rounded oval, afterwards very oblong oval {_ftg. 2), 

 one side often compressed by contact with a prominent vein of the leaf. A 

 convex median area separated rather distinctly from a flatter marginal zone ; 

 transparent, colourless, or very slightly stained with ochreous, marked with fine 

 concentric lines of growth. Pellicles approximately central, transparent bright 

 yellow. In middle of first pellicle is a circular elevated disc with a white central 

 boss and radiating raised lines {Jig. 3). Ventral scale very thin and delicate, a 

 mere film on surface of leaf. Length Vt,o to 2 mm. Breadth 075 to i mm. 



Male puparium said by Signoret to be similar to that of female, but more 

 oblong. 



Adult female {Jig. 4) oblong, unusually so for insects of this genus ; margin 

 of cephalic extremity flattened ; segments moderately distinct. Antennae {Jig. 5) 

 rudimentary. No parastigmatic glands. Pygidium {Jig. 6) with six tricuspid 

 lobes ; median pair much larger and darker than the others, roundly tricuspid ; 

 the second and third pairs slender and pointed ; the third sometimes almost 

 obsolete. Three deep marginal notches on each side (one laterad of each lobe), 

 more apparent on dorsal surface, where they extend further inwards. Squames 

 long and deeply fringed, two between median lobes, two between first and 

 second lobes, three between second and third, and four or five laterad of the 

 third lobe. Circumgenital glands in four groups ; orifices few, upper laterals 

 with 3 to 5, lower laterals with 5 or 6. Tubular spinnerets filiform, opening by 

 long ducts on to the extreme margin ; a few (about three on each side) opening 

 by inconspicuous dorsal pores. Anal aperture near extremity. Genital aperture 

 near the centre of the pygidium. Length from i to v^o mm. Breadth 0*50 to 

 075 mm. 



Adult male unknown. Signoret describes the male puparium, but makes no 

 mention of the adult. 



Eggs greenish yellow. 



Habitat in Ceylon on tea and cinchona plants, also on a species of palm 

 {fiK- 0; usually confined to the under surface of the leaves. Larger colonies 

 occur on the fronds. A still more elongated form {Jig. 7) occurs on Cjais at 

 Kandy, crowded upon upper and under surface of fronds. Signoret's type was 

 described from specimens found on a Venezuelan plant {Cyanophyllum niag- 

 nijiacm) in the Luxembourg Gardens. Comstock has found it in the United 

 States on several species of Ficus. 



