1909. 



11 



® 



FigL.rt- 



Figure 1. 



KeHMES niMALAYENSIS, «. Sp. 



Adult female insect approximately hemispherical, sometimes slightly oblong, 

 with a broad base of attachment , often much distorted by crowding. Skin smooth 

 and polished, obscurely jnmctate. Ground colour varying from milky-white to 

 fulvous or pale castaneous, closely marbled and spotted, the markings varying from 

 dark castaneous to black. To the naked eye the pattern appears to be in the form 

 of three longitudinal series of large irregular spots (see fig. 1), but under the micro- 

 scope, this character is lost in a more general marmoration, intensified and condensed 

 into three irregular longitudinal stripes (see fig. 2). Antennae rudimentary, reduced 

 to two short stout joints, the apex with four or five stout hairs (fig. 3). Legs com- 

 pletely atrophied, no trace of these limbs remaining. I have been unable to satisfy 

 myself whether the anal ring is normally setiferous or not. It displays six distinct 

 alveoli, suggestive of the bases of hairs ; sometimes one or another of these alveoli 

 is associated with a typical slout hair, in other examples these spots give rise to 

 small points, but in most examples no process of any kind can be detected. Anal 

 aperture apparently opening on to the venter ; partially surrounded by a few small 

 stout spines and numerous compound circular spinnerets similar to those found on 

 other parts of the venter. There are also two longer hair-like spines, set on small 

 tubercles, representing the anal lobes and caudal setae. Derm with numerous minute 

 tubular spinnerets, and a few small hair-like spines. Venter with irregular trans- 

 verse series of circular spinnerets, each with a larger central opening surrounded by 

 a ring of minute pores (fig. 4). Size very variable, some apparently fully developed 

 individuals being scarcely one-fourth the size of the others. A well developed 

 isolated female measures 4 mm. in diameter with a depth of 2'5 mm. 



Immature females oval, narrower in front, posterior extremity broadly rounded, 

 flattish, with irregular median and sublateral rounded tuberculose ridges. Colour 

 reddish-castaneous. The insect, in this stage of development, might be mistaken 

 for a species of Lecanium. 



Other stages unknown. 



Habitat : Female insects crowded on twigs and smaller branches 

 of oak {Quercus incana). N. W. Himalayas, India. Collected by 

 Mr. E. P. Stebbing. 



