24 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Genus Eipebsia, Siguoret. 



Female insects of the general form of Dactylopius, but 

 having antenna of six joints : naked, or covered %Yith cotton 

 or meal. 



Ripersia fagi, sp. nov. Plate IV., figs. 15-20. 



Adult female sub-globular or slightly elongated, naked ; 

 generally distinctly segmented, but in specimens vrhich have 

 been parasitised the segments become very indistinct ; colom- 

 dark-red or brown ; length about ^^in. It appears to affect 

 chiefly the upper surface of the leaves. Anal tubercles two, 

 very inconspicuous, and just above them are two small tuber- 

 cular lobules ; all the fotu- bear setae and also short hairs, and 

 these bear white cottony excretion, which is sometimes amal- 

 gamated in a mass, sometimes in the form of separate pencils ; 

 and from the anogenital ring springs another cottony pencil. 

 Anogenital ring with six hairs. Antennae somewhat slender, 

 with six joints which have the form of those of Dactylopius : 

 the first two are shoit, the third about as long as the first 

 and second together, fourth and fifth equal to the second, 

 sixth rather longer than the third, fusiform, with a few short 

 hairs. Feet rather strong and thick : in the two anterior 

 pairs the tarsus is almost as long as the tibia, but in the 

 posterior pair the tibia is nearly twice as long as the tarsus : 

 the digitizes are all fine hairs. Mentum trimerous. There 

 are no dorsal or marginal spines, but a great number of 

 circular simple spinnerets : these are particularly nimierous 

 on the anal tubercles and lobules. 



Female of the second stage flattish, elongated, slightly 

 segmented : colour varying from yellow to brown, red, or 

 dark-green ; length about ^ia. The extremities are truncate. 

 Anal tubercles inconspicuous, but a Uttle more prominent 

 than in the adult, and vrith a pair of lobules anterior to them ; 

 all these bear setae and short hairs. Antennas of six rather 

 thick joints : the first five are sub-equal, the third being rather 

 the longest ; the sixth is about half as long as all the rest to- 

 gether. Feet rather thick ; the posterior tarsi are as long as 

 the tibiae. Anal ring with six hairs. 



Larva active, elongated, distinctly segmented, flattish, 

 usually expanded posteriorly ; colour yellow ; length about 

 ■Jjin. Anal tubercles very inconspicuous, setiferous ; the 

 anterior lobules are not noticeable. Antennae with six rather 

 thick joints, sub-equal, except the last which is nearly as long 

 as the rest together. Feet thick ; all the tarsi are about as 

 long as the tibiae. Anal ring large, with sis hairs. 



Male unknown. 



Hab. In New Zealand, on Fagus menziesii, Eeeftou 

 <iistrict. 



