24 [June, 1887. 



The species is not rare on the continent of Europe, and all authors 

 state that it is found on cultivated roses. Bouche says that it lives 

 on the stems and old shoots, which at times are quite covered with the 

 scales, making them appear as if mouldy, and that if not removed (the 

 best way of doing so being by means of a hard brush) the bush is 

 killed by them. Signoret makes a similar remark. Comstock says 

 the species is very common on roses, both in the Southern and Northern 

 States of North America, and that he also finds the scales on rasp- 

 berries and blackberries {Bubus). Maskell finds it on garden-roses in 

 New Zealand. "Walker includes the species in his list of British 

 Coccidce, and I have often sought for the scales, both on garden and 

 wild roses, but in vain. On March 1st Mr. Parfitt sent from Exeter 

 some old ? scales which he had just found on the stems of a wild rose ' 

 {Rosa canina), and on bramble stems, growing in a hedge, and these 

 wex'e assuredly the ? of Diaspis ros(B ; and on the 5th following he 

 found some of the ^ scales. He thus writes : " Since my first visit I 

 find the hedge has been cut down to wathin a foot of the ground. 

 However, I secured a branch of the rose and was pleased to find a few 

 male scales. I could find no scales on the young branches, only on 

 the old stems. This appears to be a scarce species, as I have walked 

 past miles of hedges within the last two years, but have seen these 

 scales in two places only, and the one just mentioned is likely to be 

 destroyed." 



PULVINAEIA MESEMBRTANTHEMI. 



mesemlrianthemi, Vallot, Bull, de Ferussac ii, p. 469 (1830). 



Calypticus mesemhriatithemi, Costa, Ann. d. Acad. Asp. Nat. Naples, 273 (1844). 

 Pulvinaria biplicata, Targ.-Tozz., Catal., p. 34 (1868). 

 Pulvinaria mesembrianthemi, Sign., Ess. Cochin., 215. 



The synonymy comes from Signoret, I. c. The genus adopted by Vallot is not 

 given, and I cannot refer to the original. P. biplicata, Targ.-Tozz., cited by Signoret 

 as a synonym, was not described ; it was only denominated " n. sp. {Mesembrianthemi 

 acinaciformis incola)." 



? scale, adult. Ovate, yellowish-brown, slightly convex, with three or four 

 strong corrugations across the middle, often, however, in the most advanced con- 

 dition, the dry scale is also contorted or bent backwards. Underneath, and projecting 

 posteriorly, is a large, long, white ovisac, smooth above, but otherwise composed of 

 loose, tangled, cottony filaments, among which are the yellow eggs and larvse. An- 

 tennae of eight joints, the 3rd longest. Length of scale 4 — 5, breadth 3 — 3'o mm. 



In the young stages and up to the time of the formation of the ovisac, the 

 entire insect is delicate pale green and the scale is smooth ; the colour becomes 

 gradually brown, and the transverse folds then also first appear, developing as the 

 scale becomes dry. 



On a small piece of a Mesemhryanthemum imported from Spain, 

 received from Dr. W. H. Lowe, "Wimbledon, in April, was a numerous 

 colony of this species in all stages of existence. 



