SCALE INSECTS (" COCCIDiE ") OF AUSTRALIA. 45 



Genus XXV. Lecanopsis, Targioni-Tozzetti. 



Rhizobium, Targ,, Studii sul Cocci, p. 23. 1867. 



Targ., Catalogue, p. 36. 1869. 



Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent., France (5), vol. iv, p. 93. 1874. 



The members of this genus are subterranean in their habits, living on the 

 roots of plants like some of the members of the genus Dactylofius, but are 

 easily distinguished from members of the latter genus by the lecanid abdo- 

 minal cleft, in the anal lobes, and in having six-jointed antennse. The legs 

 are present, but small and usually aborted, mentum monomerous. Four 

 species have been recorded from Europe and North Ameiica, and one from 

 Australia. Cockerell removed our species from this genus and created a 

 new genus /I/ecawops/s, making A. filicum the type; as far as I can, see the 

 reasons given are only colour, and the more convex and rugose form of the 

 adult coccid. The convexity and deeper segmentation of the abdomen 

 seem doubtful generic characters unless a series of specimens have been 

 examined by the creator of the new genus. 



Lecanopsis filicum, Maskell. 

 Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. viii (2nd ser.), p. 225, pi. vii, figs. 1-4. 1893. 

 Cockerell, Canadian Entomologist, vol. xxxiii, p. 58. 1901. 



The type was found upon the roots of Doodia asfera (fern) growing on the 

 Kurrajong, near Richmond New South Wales. 



Adult female dark redd sh brown, general form turbinate with the under- 

 surface slightly concave, the cephalic portion smallest, smooth, with the 

 rostral plate large and rounded. Antennse short, rather thick, conical, six- 

 Jointed. Feet short, rudimentary, joints swollen. Abdominal portion 

 broadest, rounded at apex, distinctly segmented and very convex; the anal 

 segment rounded on either side, with distinct anal clefts and lobes. 



In Maskell's description no measurements are given ; my specimen, taken 

 on the roots of the same species of fern near the original locality, is \ inch 

 in length, and f*^ inch across the abdomen, with a height of ^ inch. These 

 measurements do not agree with Malkell's description,, as he says " the height 

 ieing equal to the length." 



1021. Alecanofsis filicum. Cat. Coccida?, p. 211 



