250 Eriococcin^, 



ERIOCOCCUS BAMBUS^, nov. 

 (Plate CXXXV.) 



Ovisac of female (^figs. 2, 3) white, ochreous white, or greyish white, 

 broad in front, tapering rapidly behind, traversely flattened ; longitudinally 

 curved across the angle formed by the base of the leaf with the stem of the 

 plant, the insects being disposed— singly— in the axils of the leaves (see fig. i). 

 In fresh examples there is an irregular marginal fringe of fibrous filaments. 

 The under parts are very thin and fragile, so that when the ovisac is 

 detached the insect and eggs are exposed to view {fig. 3). Breadth across 

 the middle 2-50 mm. The longitudinal curvature prevents accurate measure- 

 ment of the length. 



Adult female {fig. 4) curved in correspondence with its position on the 

 plant. Dorsum narrower than venter, and covered with numerous stout 

 pointed spines which are distributed without any apparent order, except that 

 there is a tendency towards a transverse arrangement on the abdominal 

 segments. The marginal spines are rather longer, stouter and more crowded, 

 and tend to separate into groups tov/ards the posterior extremity. Antenna 

 {fig. 6) seven-jointed ; second and third usually longest and equal ; 4th usually 

 shorter than seventh, but occasionally equal to it. Limbs with tarsus 

 and tibia of equal length {fig. 7). Claw with an almost imperceptible 

 denticle on inner edge near apex. Digitules very slender, with a minute 

 knob at apex. Anal lobes {fig. 5) well developed ; rather strongly 

 chitinized ; cylindrical at base, obliquely tapering at apex, with the usual 

 spines and apical setae. Anal ring with eight stout setae. Owing to the peculiar 

 form of the insect it is difficult to obtain the exact dimensions. The dorsum 

 is longer, while at the same time it is narrower than the venter, so that — 

 under compression — the body becomes more or less distorted. The length 

 (making no allowance for the curvature) is found to vary between to and 

 275 mm., the average length of ten examples being 2-25 mm. Measurements 

 of breadth are still more unsatisfactory : an average of the same ten examples 

 gives a transverse diameter of r35 mm. 



Adult male with long and conspicuous caudal filaments, one on each side 

 of penultimate segment {fig. 8). Head and thorax brown, abdomen pinkish 

 purple. Wings hyaline, colourless, slightly mealy. Antennas with many 

 longish knobbed hairs. When boiled in potash the whole insect (including 

 the wings) assumes a bright crimson colour. Length (from frons to extremity 

 of genital sheath) r25 mm. Expanse of wings 2*50 mm. 



Newly hatched larva {fig. 9) elongate, narrow, tapering behind. There is 

 a marginal series of stout spines, and a series of four similar spines across the 

 middle of the thorax. Length 0*45 mm. 



In the axils of the leaves of Bamboo. Yatiyantota, March : Udagama, 

 October. 



Allied to E. onukii., Kuwana, from which it differs in the form of the female 

 ovisac, in the size and arrangement of the dorsal spines, and in the antennal 

 formula. In otiukii there are definite longitudinal series of conspicuously 

 enlarged spines, and in that species the second antennal joint is markedly shorter 

 than the third. The ovisac of omckii is laterally compressed. 



