44 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. IS. 



Genus XXIV. Alcerda, Signoret. 



Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. iv, p. 46. 1874. 

 Newstead, Mon. British C'occidce, vol. ii, p. 10. 1903. 



This genus was created by Signoret for a lecauid coccid living underground 

 in Southern Europe on grass. The female has no legs or antennse, and is 

 covered with a felted ovisac. The larvse are very elongate, with parallel 

 sides; the margins of the body fringed with fine short bristles. Six species 

 have been described in different parts of the world, and though few in number, 

 the genus has a very wide range over Europe, California, Japan, and Natal. 



Alcerda sella-hispanica, Lindenger. 

 Die Fauna *S'MrfM'&^< Australiens, Bund, iv, p. 8. 1913. 

 The species comes from North Fremantle, Western Australia. 



"Adult female brown; broad elliptical, depressed in the centre, with 

 longitudinal carina down the dorsum, margin with few spines, rounded at 

 apex, anal segment broad and tooth-shaped. Antennse and legs, wanting 

 or aborted. Length, 3 mm., 2 mm. broad, and 1 mm. in height." 



