76 Aonidia. 



AONIDIA OBSCURA, jr/. nov. 

 (Plate XIX. /^j, i, b and 6-9.) 



Female puparium (^fig. 6) oval ; moderately convex ; probably normally 

 covered by a continuous layer of secretion, but in every specimen examined 

 this has been rubbed off, except at the margin, leaving the pellicles exposed. 

 Second pellicle proportionately large ; occupying the greater part of the scale ; 

 colour bright red-brown ; margin regularly crenate {fig. 7). First pellicle paler; 

 approximately central ; slightly depressed. Ventral scale complete, being the 

 ventral half of the second pellicle which, in this species, is free to the extreme 

 margin. Greater diameter 075 mm. 



Male puparium not observed. 



Adult female very small, occupying the anterior half of the second pellicle ; 

 broadly rounded in front ; abdominal segments abruptly narrowed, and with 

 ragged lateral margins ; pygidium rather prominent {fig. 8). Colour of dried 

 specimen pale creamy white. Pygidium {fig. 9) with six prominent pointed 

 lobes, the outermost on each side very small ; median lobes rather widely 

 separate. Squames narrow, tapering, hairlike ; two in the space between 

 median lobes ; three very long ones (twice as long as lobes) in each of the 

 two following spaces ; and two very small ones beyond the third lobe on each 

 side. Small spines at base of each lobe, and one half way between third lobe 

 and base of pygidium. Diameter of female about 0*50 mm. 



Adult male not observed. 



Larvae not observed. 



Large, fully formed embryos are visible within the body of the female {fig. 8.) 



Habitat on branches of Loranthus ; Punduloya (January). 



A very small and inconspicuous species, distinguishable from A. loranihi^ 

 which has the same habitat, by its more oval form and the crenate outline of 

 the large second pellicle. 



It appears to be largely subject to the attacks of some hymenopterous 

 parasite, the greater number of the scales examined showing an aperture on 

 the dorsum by which the minute fly has escaped. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIX. {figs, i, b and 6-9.) 



Aonidia obscura. 

 {All figures., except No. i, more or less enlarged.) 



Fig. 1,(5. Female insects, nat. size 



6. Female puparium, dorsal view. 



7. Second pellicle, outline. 



8. Adult female, ventral view. 



9. Pygidium of adult female. 



