62 Aspidiotus. 



ASPIDIOTUS CYD0NL4:, Comstoch. 



(Plate XIV.) 



Aspidiotus cydo7iicF, Comstock, Agric. Rep., 1880, p. 295. 



Female puparium at first circular {fig. 2), older scales usually more or less 

 oblong ; strongly convex {fig. 3), Ventral scale thin ; remaining attached to 

 the plant. Colour white or pale ochreous. Surface varying considerably with 

 that of the plant to which it is attached {figs. 2 and 7). Pellicles centrally 

 situated in early stages, afterwards nearer one extremity ; brownish yellow or 

 straw coloured ; exposed or slightly obscured by a thin whitish secretion ; a 

 central boss on first pellicle. Diameter i to 1*50 mm. 



Male puparium unknown. 



Adult female bright yellow ; oval, narrowest behind : convex above, flattish 

 beneath ; segments moderately defined {figs. 4 and 5). Antennae rudimentary ; 

 a pair of small tubercules each with a longish curved hair at the side. Some 

 (parasitised ? ) specimens from a cactus plant were of a more elongated form, 

 with the divisions of the segments strongly marked {fig. 9). Pygidium {fig, 6) 

 broad ; median lobes prominent, bluntly tricuspid ; lateral lobes obsolete ; two 

 deep notches with thickened rims on each side of median lobes ; several deeply 

 divided squames caudad of each notch, and one or two simple ones laterad of 

 each notch. Circumgenital glands in four groups, each with from five to seven 

 orifices (Professor Comstock quotes eight to nine for the anterior laterals, and 

 five to seven for the posterior groups, in the type). A series of about eight 

 filiform tubular spinnerets extends diagonally upwards from the second marginal 

 notch, opening by conspicuous oval pores on the dorsal surface ; others open 

 on to the extreme margin. Anal aperture large, close to extremity. Genital 

 aperture between the lower lateral spinneret groups. Size averaging i mm. 

 by 075 mm. 



Adult male unknown. 



Habitat in Punduloya on the fruit {fig. i), branches and leaves of the edible 

 fig {Ficus carica) ; on fruit of Pomelo {Citrus decumand) ; and on the stems of 

 the tea plant ; also on Cycas, on Cactus, and on the base of the leaves of a 

 small palm ; Kandy. In the latter case the scales are roughed and coloured 

 by the incorporation of reddish fibrous matter from the plant {fig. 7). Originally 

 described from specimens found on Quince {Cydonia) in Florida. Reported 

 also by Mr. Maskell as occurring on orange trees in the Sandwich Islands. 

 This species is evidently very closely allied to A. Camellice, the principal 

 differences being the presence of grouped glands, and the larger number of 

 tubular spinnerets. The puparia may be distinguished by the paler colour of 

 the pellicles, and by the more delicate nature of the ventral scale ; the pellicles 

 are usually more exposed in this species, nor are the central boss and concentric 

 ring so conspicuous. 



