Eriococcince. 347 



Genus ERIOCOCCUS, Targloni-Tozzetti, 



Eriococcus, Targ., Catalogue, p. 33 (1869). 



Acanthococcus, Sign., Ann. Soc. Fr. (5), Vol. V. p. 34 (1875). 



Uhlerza, Cooke, Treat. Ins. Inj. Fruit fir» For. Trees ^ Cal. p. 41 (1881). 



Adult female completely enclosed in a felted ovisac. Posterior extremity of 

 body with prominent (often densely chitinous) lobes. Derm usually with con- 

 spicuous tubular spines, which may be either sharply pointed or truncate. 

 Antennee normally with either six or seven joints. Tarsus frequently as long 

 as or longer than tibia. 



The genus, of which nearly one hundred species have been recognised, is 

 widely distributed throughout both temperate and tropical regions. They 

 have a wide range of food plants, including both Dicotyledons and Monocoty- 

 ledons. 



Seven species have been found in Ceylon, and may be distinguished by the 

 following characters : — 



A. Spines chiefly confined to the margin, forming a more or 



less continuous fringe. 



(a) Tarsus equal to tibia. Spines acute araucarice. 



{b) Tarsus markedly longer than tibia. Spines truncate nuerce. 



B. Spines distributed over the dorsum. 



{a) Spines numerous ; more or less evenly distributed 

 over the whole area ; on Bamboos. 

 {a}) Ovisac transversely flattened ; broad in front, 



tapering rapidly behind bambusce. 



{b^) Ovisac laterally compressed ; curved longi- 

 tudinally into the shape of a horse-shoe transversus. 



{b) Spines comparatively few ; arranged in more or less 

 definite longitudinal series, 

 (a*) Tarsus approximately equal to tibia ; spines long 



and sharply pointed tenuis. 



(b^) Tarsus markedly longer than tibia ; spines 

 shorter, bluntly pointed. 

 (a^) Interstitial spines between the longitudinal 



series rhodovtyrti. 



{b^) No interstitial spines osbeckice. 



