EriococcincB. 345 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 Sub-family ERIOCOCCIN^. 



I HAVE treated this group (usually included with XhQ Dactylopimcs) 

 as a separate family, as they appear to form a natural assemblage 

 with distinct characters ; though they are undoubtedly nearly allied 

 to the other ' Mealy Bugs ' comprised in the genera Pseudococcus) 

 Phenacoccus, Ripersia, &c. 



The character that is most noticeable in members of this family 

 is the presence of conspicuous prominent (often densely chitinous, 

 anal lobes. This character connects them also with certain 

 members of the AsterolecaniincB {e.g., Cerococcus). The genera 

 Kernies and Fonscolombia, the adult females of which are without 

 any trace of anal lobes, must be regarded as exceptions, but the 

 early larvae of these genera suggest their relationship to the 

 Eriococcine group. Maskell {Trans. N.Z. 1883, p. 128) proposed 

 the name HemicoccincE for a sub-family to contain the genera Kermes 

 and Asterolecanmm, in the belief that the species of these genera 

 combined the characters of the Lccaniincs (in the adult stage) with 

 those of the Dactylopiince (in the larval stages). But recent study 

 has shown that this idea was founded upon a misconception of the 

 characters of the insects in question. Pseudopidvinaria of Atkinson 

 (syn. Lefroyia, Green) is another genus that does not appear, at first 

 sight, to conform with the characters of the Eriococcince, and this 

 also was originally referred to the Hemicoccince. But, as 1 have 

 shown in my description and figures oi Lefroyia castanice { = Pseiido- 

 pulvinaria sikkimensis), this difference is more apparent than real. 

 The anal lobes are strongly developed in the larva ; but, during 

 subsequent growth, they become distorted and retracted within an 

 anal pit. 



The remaining genera {Eriococcus, Rhizococcus and Gossyparid) 

 have all the typical characters of the family, differing from each 

 other merely in the nature of the secretionary covering. The 

 antennae are comparatively short, never exceeding seven joints, the 

 last of which is not elongated as in Pseudococcus and its allies. The 

 body is usually armed with conspicuous dermal spines, except in 

 the genera Kerines and Pseudopulvinaria. The tarsus is propor- 



ZZ 



