1896.] 22:i 



NOTES ON COCCID M. 

 BY W. M. MASKELL. 



Chionaspis aspidistra and Chionaspis bkasiliensis. 



In the number of this Magazine for March, 1S96 (p. 60), Mr. 

 Newstead has some remarks upon these two species. After observing 

 that the type of G. hrasiliemis is not in the Signoret collection at 

 Vienna, he concludes that certain specimens from a greenhouse which 

 he had thought belonged to that species were really G. aspidistra; ; 

 further, that Mr. Green also thinks the two identical ; and, lastly, 

 that probably my Australian brasiJiensis will also turn out to be 

 aspidistrce. 



In 1H91 I reported (Indian Museum Notes, vol ii, p. 17) G. as- 

 pidistrce in India, and the drawing which accompanies my remarks, 

 and which was taken from one of the specimens then sent me (and 

 now in one of my slides) very fairly represents the peculiar form of 

 the insect, a form which Signoret specially dwells on in his diagnosis 

 of the species. I am perfectly confident of the correctness of my 

 identification as regards G. aspidistrce. 



In 1892 (Trans. New Zealand Inst., vol. xxv, p. 210) I identified 

 specimens received from both Ceylon and Australia as G. hi'asiliensis. 

 It is presumable that these Cingalese insects are the ones which Mr. 

 Green now takes to be G. aspidistrce. None of those sent to me from 

 either country exhibited the peculiar form of aspidistrts alluded to 

 just now. 



Mr. Newstead's note has induced me to again examine and com- 

 pare my specimens, and the following is the result. In the absence 

 of type specimens of hrasiliensis we are reduced to the published 

 descriptions of Signoret ; and I may say that I find these quite borne 

 out by observation of the insects in my cabinet. The characters 

 noticeable are : — 



C. ASPIDISTEJE. C. BRASILIENSIS. 



$ puparium exceedingly thin and papery. ? puparium raore solid. 



$ puparium snow-white, tricarinate. $ puparium snow-white, triearinate. 



Ist ? pellicle equal to about | of the 1st ? pellicle equal to about i of the 



puparium. puparium. 



2nd ? pellicle reaching to about i of 2nd ? pellicle scarcely reaching to \ of 



the puparium. the puparium. 



Adult ? with excessively conspicuous Adult ? with not more than ordinary 



protruding segments. segments. 



The termination of the abdomen with its lobes and hairs, and tho 

 groups of " spinnerets," do not appreciably vary in the two. 



