360 Dactylopiincs. 



Phoenicococcus. Closely related to Phosnicococcus, but distinguished by the 

 form of the sac, which exactly imitates that of Solenococctis^ 



To this it may be added that the sac (or puparium) of Halimococcus 

 has an operculate aperture at the posterior extremity, in which particular 

 it differs from that of Cerococcus, and that the adult female is without a 

 setiferous anal ring. The operculum has the appearance of being tightly 

 closed and immovable, but I have seen a single individual in which it was half 

 open, hinged on the anterior rim of the aperture. It forms the only possible 

 exit for the young larvae. 



The insects appear to be ovoviviparous. The male is unknown in any 

 stage. Nor has the nymphal stage of the female been determined. 



The type species {H. lampas^ Ckll.) occurs on palms in Natal. At least one 

 other species (at present undescribed) affects a species of Calamics in Java. 



HALIMOCOCCUS BORASSI, nov. 



Mature insect completely enclosed in a hard rigid puparium of a deep 

 reddish brown colour. This case is of a narrow oval form, strongly convex 

 above, flattened along the point of detachment below, rounded in front, taper- 

 ing and elevated behind (see {fig. 4), where it terminates above in a broadly 

 oval aperture closed by an operculum, which is of a brighter reddish colour. 

 The surface is minutely roughened, and bears indistinct traces of transverse 

 corrugation. The nymphal skin — of a pale stramineous colour— at first 

 remains attached to the puparium, and appears to be split longitudinally along 

 the median ventral line, the two halves of the ventral area opening outwards 

 (see {fig. 3). This covering is subsequently shed, or becomes detached. In 

 many individuals an irregular covering of white waxy secretion conceals the 

 sides of the puparium, leaving the median dorsal area exposed {fig. 2). 

 Length o'6 to 07 mm. 



Adult female {fig. 5) relatively of the same form as the puparium, which it 

 completely fills. Colour very pale yellow or creamy white, the derm so thin 

 and delicate that it is extremely difficult to extract the insect without rupturing 

 it, when it collapses into a shapeless film. The only noticeable feature on the 

 fresh insect is the rostral apparatus, which is rather strongly developed, and 

 shows as a brownish patch on the under surface. After maceration {fig. 6) 

 there can be distinguished, in addition, a pair of rudimentary antennae repre- 

 sented by minute irregular tubercles {fig. 7) and the four thoracic spiracles. 

 There is no vestige of limbs. The anal segment {fig. 8) is somewhat pygidi- 

 form, the dorsal area covered by a sharply defined chitinous plate, which is 

 approximately of the same form as the operculum of the puparium. The 

 minute anal orifice is in the centre of this plate, which also carries from eight 

 to ten circular pores. The outer margin is entire without either prominences 

 or incisions. On the ventral surface is another chitinous plate covering the 

 genital aperture. Length of extended female 0*5 mm. 



Newly hatched larva very pale yellow. Margin with a series of short seta; 



