74 First Report on Economic Zoology, 



(i.) Two small larval mealy Bugs {Dactylohius citri). 



(ii.) A single mite {Tetranyclius telarius). 



(iii.) Several specimens in larval, pupal, and adult winged stages 

 of one of the Pseudo-Neuroptera belonging to the family Psocidce. 



The following note was sent to Col. Sanderson : — 



The life-history of the Psocidce is roughly as follows : The females 

 lay their eggs in patches on leaves, bark, etc., of trees and plants and 

 other objects, many on dead and decaying matter and preserved 

 objects. The females cover the eggs with a web. Larvoe and pupfe 

 are much alike ; wing-buds gradually appear on the larva and so the 

 pupal stage is assumed. Dry vegetable matters and lichens form the 

 food of one section (PJiocina) ; the food of the other section {Atropina) 

 is dried insects, plants, books, papers, etc. One of the latter, Atropos 

 divinatoria, is sometimes called the Death Watch, A beetle, Ano- 

 hium tessellatum, is also called the Death Watch. The Psocid?e do 

 much harm to papers, books, and insect collections. The Phocina 

 live more or less in societies on tree trunks, palings, and amongst 

 rough herbage and on trees, especially on Conifers ; both sexes can 

 spin a web of silk. Some species do harm to living plants, but the 

 majority do not. The Psocidte sent belong to the genus Ccecilius. 



With regard to the male " Mealy Bugs " which you enquire 

 after, they can soon be told, for they have one pair of wings as in all 

 other Coccidte, and thus differ from the winged Psocids. 



The common " Mealy Bug " is known as Dactylohius citri, Bois- 

 duval, and is the same as D. dcsiructoi^ of Comstock. It is a world- 

 wide species. The males are not so very rare ; they are of a dull 

 reddish colour and have two long white thread-like processes at the 

 end of the body ; the single pair of wings are dark iridescent blue, 

 and when the insects are settled these wings overlap and hide the 

 abdomen. They are very different in appearance from the sedentary 

 females. 



Two other " Mealy Bugs " occur in Great Britain, namely the 

 Long-fringed Mealy Bug (D. longipinus) and the native Laburnum 

 and Gorse Mealy Bug (Psciidococcus ulicis). The former can be told 

 by the long margined processes. The latter is really non-injurious. 



The other forms you sent with the winged Ccecilius were its 

 larval and pupal stages. Many of the Psocida3 remain very like the 

 larval stage you send, i.e. in an apterous condition. 



