Maskell. — On Coccididse. 79 



This species is so very closely allied to P. r.iaskeUi, the 

 " saltbush scale," from Wentworth, New South Wales, that 

 I cannot consider it as more than a variety, and even that 

 only doubtfully. The differences are in the narrowness and 

 proportionate length of the ovisac and the larger and more 

 conspicuous spines on the margin of the adult female ; and 

 the former of these may simply be due to the character of the 

 plant on which the insect lives. Mr. Olliff, in his account of 

 P. maskelli, does not mention any waxy tubes as springing 

 from the marginal spines of that species in life, 



Pulvinaria tecta, sp. nov. Plate IV., figs. 9-14. 



Adult female producing a quantity of white, or slightly 

 yellowish, cotton, which forms a more or less globular mass, 

 frequently reaching a diameter of more than -^^iu., but often 

 many of these are aggregated in a large mass, covering the 

 twigs very thickly. It is difficult at first sight to detect the 

 insect, which seems almost entirely covered by the cotton, but 

 on careful scrutiny it may be discovered partially embedded, 

 or even sometimes almost fully exposed. The cotton is full of 

 eggs and larvae. 



Female insect varying in colour from reddish-brown to 

 greenish or yellowish brown. Form elongate-elliptical, 

 slightly concave beneath and convex above, with often a 

 longitudinal median dorsal carina. There is frequently a 

 slight constriction on the cephalic region, rather anterior to 

 the rostrum. Abdominal cleft normal, the dorsal lobes rather 

 small. Antennoe slender, of eight joints, of which the two first 

 are short and wider than the rest, the sixth and seventh very 

 little longer and slender, the third fourth and eighth the longest 

 and subequal. The second and fifth joints bear each one long 

 hair ; the eighth has several moderately long. The feet 

 are slender, the tibia very little longer than the tarsus : the 

 tarsal digitules are long fine knobbed hairs, the digitules of 

 the claw usually the same, sometimes a little dilated. The 

 anal ring bears several hairs. On the margin of the body is a 

 row of moderately-long blunt spiny hairs. The epidermis is 

 often marked with numbers of small oval clear spots, which 

 are not visible until after treatment with potash. The dor- 

 sum is covered with a pubescence of very short fine hairs. 

 Length of insect averaging ^in. before gestation. 



Second stage not observed. 



Larva red, or yellowish-red, flattish, elliptical, active : 

 length about ^V^- Antennae slender and rather long, of six 

 joints, the first two very short, the third and sixth the longest : 

 on the last joint, besides the ordinary hairs, is one very long 

 and another rather less so. Abdominal cleft conspicuous ; the 

 lobes small, each bearing a long seta : between the lobes are a 



