166 THE coccroAE 



characteristic of practically all the first stage nymphs of species 

 of this subfamily, is the presence of a distinct operculum on each 

 side of the anal cleft. These instead of being at the cephalic end 

 of the anal cleft are at the caudal end and form a part of the 

 caudal margin. Each operculum bears a single large seta, an anal 

 seta, and often other much smaller setae. The opercula are con- 

 sidered as the homologues of the anal lobes and by some as the 

 homologues of the last abdominal segment, but more strictly should 

 be homologized with the penultimate segment. The thoracic 

 spiracles are always present, but there is some variation in the 

 presence and size of the canellae, stigmatic clefts, spinae, and 

 spiracerores. The anal ring and the anal ring setae are present 

 and situated at the cephalic end of the anal tube which opens at 

 the cephalic end of the anal cleft. The anal ring and anal tube 

 and their associated parts are frequently extruded as a bag-like 

 structure after treatment with caustic potash. The possession of 

 an anal ring and anal ring setae and especially of anal lobes and 

 anal setae in the first nymphal stage shows that there is a 

 phylogenetic relationship existing between the lecaniids and 

 eriococcids. 



The female nymphs of the second stage have legs and antennae 

 that are smaller than those of the first stage. They resemble more 

 closely the adult females in general appearance. This is due to 

 the size in the naked species and to the increase in the amount of 

 wax in those genera excreting a covering of wax. The opercula, 

 while they are not 3'et located at the cephalic end of the anal cleft, 

 have migrated away from the caudal margin and at the first molt 

 lost their anal setae. A second molting of the cuticle transforms 

 them into adult females. It is not difficult to understand how the 

 naked species are able to molt, but in the species of such genera 

 as Ceroplastes which bear a test of wax of considerable thickness 

 which adheres closely to the body throughout life, it is not ea.sy to 

 understand how this takes place. It has been suggested by Green, 

 since in this genus the plates of wax excreted bj" the dorsum and 

 latus of the larva can be recognized in the test of the adult, the 

 molted .skin must be incorporated in the mass of wax of the adult. 



The males are said to molt three times and to pass through 

 three nymphal stages before becoming winged adults. They are 

 difficult to separate from the females during the second nymphal 

 stage until they have formed their cocoons, which in the great 

 majority of the males of this subfamily is a subdepressed, thin, 



