Tachardiina. 413 



and second lateral lobes. There is a beak-like prominence above the anterior 

 extremity. Approximate length i mm. 



The female nymph itself is also obscurely lobed {fig. 9), though the lobes do 

 not correspond with those of the test. There is a broadly rounded anterior 

 lobe ; a medio-lateral lobe on each side, occupying the space between the two 

 stigmatic areas ; and a postero-lateral lobe on each side of the prominent caudal 

 extension. Colour rich crimson (or, occasionally, bright yellow), each of the 

 anterior stigmatic areas indicated by a small patch of white secretion which 

 covers an irregularly perforate chitinous plate {fig. 10). Anterior spiracles 

 large and conspicuous ; posterior spiracles comparatively small and inconspi- 

 cuous. The extremity of the caudal process {fig. 10, a) has similar characters 

 to that of the adult ; but the anal ring is divided into six distinct plates, four of 

 which (the upper and lower pairs) carry two setae apiece, the remaining two 

 plates each bearing a single seta. Length approximately 075 mm. 



Newly hatched larva {fig. 2) bright crimson (or yellow). Antenna {fig. 6) 

 six-jointed ; third and fourth joints longest ; fifth with two extremely long 

 whip-like hairs, equalling or exceeding the length of the antenna. Limbs well 

 developed : foot {fig. 3) with ungual and tarsal knobbed digitules, the tarsals 

 unequal in length, one of them springing from a point considerably behind the 

 other. Anterior stigmatic area with a marginal plate bearing a group of 

 mucronate papillae {fig. 4). Posterior extremity of body {fig. 5) with a pair of 

 long caudal setje springing from an outer chitinous ring bearing several smaller 

 setae and with some irregular dentate processes on its outer margin. Anal ring 

 composed of six distinct oval plates, each bearing a single longish seta. 



The young insect is at first very active and quickly migrates from the older 

 to the younger parts of the plant. Having reached its objective, it finally 

 settles down and secretes a resinous covering {fig. 7), which is deposited first 

 in a thick rim round the margin of the body, terminating in a beak-like point in 

 front. There is a stigmatic orifice on each side, from each of which protrudes 

 a tuft of short white filaments ; a similar tuft projects from the posterior (anal) 

 orifice. The dorsal covering is very thin and is deposited in transverse plates 

 corresponding with the segments of the body : there is usually a gap between 

 two of the plates at a point slightly anterior to the anal orifice. 



On the smaller branches of Albizzia stipulata, Filicium decipiens., Har- 

 pullia cupanioides, Nephelium liichi, Amhersiia nobilzs, He f nicy c Ha sepiaria, 

 Schleichera trijtiga, Croton lacct/erufn, Theobroma cacao., Ficiis nervosa and 

 Landolphia sp. Kandy ; Peradeniya ; Watagama ; Kelani Valley ; Tangalla ; 

 Anaradhapura. Received also from Darjiling, India, on Croton caudatum. 



The colonies of insects are very heavily attacked by larvae of a moth 

 {Eublemma amabilis) and also by several TiniincE. Chalcid parasites, bred 

 from this species, have been named by Ashmead Tachardicephagus thoracicus, 

 and a Braconid (which is probably parasitic upon the larva of the Eublemma) 

 has been called Bracon greeni, Ashmead. 



As noted above, there are two distinct varieties of the insect — the one 

 crimson and the other yellow. They are distinct in all stages, the crimson 

 adult producing crimson larvae, and the yellow adult yellow larvae. I have not, 

 however, observed any yellow males. Nor have I seen any intermediate 

 forms. The two colours may be confined to separate colonies, or they may be 

 mingled together. In a block of three cells, one of the insects was red, the 

 other two yellow. A pure yellow colony was observed upon Hafpu/Iia ciipa- 



