Aonidia. 69 



AONIDIA CORNIGER, Green. 



(Plates XVII. and XVI Ia.) 



Aonidia corjiiger, Green, ' Catalogue of Coccidre,' Ind. Mus. Notes, Vol. IV. 



No. I (1896). 



Female pupariuni semicircular, transverse diameter broadest ; flattish or 

 slightly convex. Colour light reddish-brown, minutely mottled with paler specks. 

 First pellicle approximately central ; either exposed {/ig. 7) or bearing the 

 horn-shaped processes of the young scale {Jig. 8). The latter is the normal 

 condition ; but, the pellicle being slightly prominent and the processes very 

 brittle, these appendages are frequently rubbed away. The pellicle itself is 

 divided up into three (a median and two lateral) series of distinct plates {Jig. 5)- 

 Second pellicle {Jig. 19) very large and broad ; anterior margin straight ; 

 posterior extremity pointed ; its dorsal surface concealed by a horny secretion 

 extending slightly beyond its margin {Jig. 7). The puparium is closed beneath 

 by the ventral parts of the second pellicle. If this ventral scale be carefully 

 dissected off (a rather difficult task, without injury to the insect), the adult 

 female will be seen lying within the hollow of the second pellicle {Jig. 9). 

 Size of the second pellicle about i by r25 mm. Size of complete puparium 

 averaging V2$ by 175 mm. 



Male puparium oblong ; externally very similar in appearance to that of 

 female, but rather smaller and darker in colour ; transverse diameter shortest. 

 The single pellicle placed transversely across the scale, near the middle, and 

 usually bearing the larval horn-shaped processes. Colour reddish brown. A 

 broad groove below for the reception of the pupa {Jig. 15). Size i'25 by 075 mm. 



Adult female {Jigs. 10 and 12) much smaller than the second pellicle. Colour 

 pinkish -purple ; abdominal segments and flattened margin creamy white. 

 Thoracic area tumescent ; greatly extended laterally. Abdominal segments 

 very much contracted, the posterior extremity scarcely projecting below the 

 lateral margins of the thorax. A thin membranous border all round the insect, 

 minutely and irregularly frayed on the abdominal margin. Antennae rudi- 

 mentary ; three-jointed, with a stoutish bristle on the basal, and a smaller 

 one on the second joint {Jig. 11). Pygidium {Jigs. 21, 22, and 23) rather 

 short ; no lobes, but the margin with large prominent processes which are very 

 variable, irregular, and often unsymmetrical. The variation is endless, no two 

 specimens being exactly alike. In what may be considered as the most normal 

 form there are four principal projections, and eight smaller pointed processes, 

 one of the latter being caudad of each of the principals, and two nearer the 

 base on each side. The margin immediately laterad of the large outer projection 

 is conspicuously thickened and darker-coloured. The median processes are 

 the most subject to variation. There are twelve small spines on the margin of 

 the pygidium, of which six are dorsal and six ventral. No grouped glands or 



