SUBFAMILY TACHARDIINAE 151 



The female nymphs at the first molt reduce their legs and 

 antennae to mere vestiges. The body is more swollen and 

 there is a prominent furrow on each side in line with the rostrum, 

 which gives the body a lobed appearance. There is a canella 

 extends obliquely from the former ventral position of each meso- 

 thoracic spiracle onto the dorsal aspect, where the mesothorac 

 spiracles are now located, due to the rearrangement of the folds of 

 the body. Each of these canellae bears numerous cerores or 

 spiracerores. The metathoracic spiracles are normal in position 

 on the ventral aspect and no canellae or spiracerores are associated 

 with them. The anal ring bears ten anal ring setae, each arising 

 from a cuticular plate with a tendency for eight of the plates to 

 fuse into pairs. The portion of the body bearing the anal ring is 

 prolonged and forms the beginning of the anal process. 



The test or scale of the second stage female nymph is charac- 

 teristic in form. As viewed from above, it consists of lobes, three 

 on each side. There is at one end a prominent opening on the 

 meson of the dorsal aspect, this is the caudal opening and the one 

 in which the anal process fits. There is also a prominent opening 

 on each side of the dorsal aspect near the furrow marking the 

 caudal limit of the cephalic lobes. A stigmatic process fits into 

 each of these openings. 



The adult females are easily recognized in most species, because 

 they bear a prominent anal spine. This is a pointed prolongation 

 of the cuticle which is located cephalad of the anus on the dorsal 

 aspect. The spine is sometimes placed on a fleshy tubercle, a 

 further prolongation of the cuticle of the body. The function of 

 the anal spine or dorsal spine as it is sometimes called, is unknown. 



There are three stages of development through which the 

 early adult female passes, the early adult female or before gesta- 

 tion, the adult female during gestation, and the old adult female 

 or after gestation or after the eggs are laid. 



The early adult female is small and similar in general form 

 to the female of the second stage. It differs in that the lobes are 

 more pronounced and the body is wider. The stigmatic processes, 

 the projections which bear the mesothoracic spiracles, are only 

 slightly elevated above the general surface of the body but the 

 canellae and spiracerores are distinct. The spiracles retain their 

 dorsal position and open dorso-laterad. The anal process is large 

 and prominent, the end is truncated, and the truncated portion 



