46 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 18. 



SUB-FAMILY Ill.—Dactyloptiince. 



The coccids belonging to this group may be defined as scale insects not 

 forming shield-like scales as in the diaspids, or naked like the lecanids, but at 

 the adult stage protected or covered with a waxy, felted, cottony, floury, or 

 woolly coat, usually fitting close over the dorsal surface of the full-grown 

 female, as she shrivels up after egg laying, forming a cavity under which 

 the larvae are hatched and protected until they emerge. They are active 

 in some cases in their earlier stages of development, but stationary when 

 fully developed. Though some species are popularly known as '' mealy 

 bugs," the members of the typical genus Dactylopius difier from the true 

 '' mealy bugs " {Monophlebi'nce) in being enveloped in, or resting upon a pad 

 or cushion of woolly filaments instead of producing the woolly ovisac behind 

 their bodies. 



The male tests, like those of the lecanids, difier in form and structure from 

 those of the females, being often slipper-shaped, ribbed or corrugated, with 

 the truncated anterior portion adapted for the escape of the perfect male. 



The adult females are more or less broadly oval, with or without legs, 

 antenna) usually well developed, but sometimes aborted. The body is 

 slightly segmented with the anal segment furnished with a j^air of rounded, 

 small, and not very prominent anal tubercules each bearing a bristle ; the 

 anogenital ring usually large and well defined. Cockerell, in his classification, 

 divides the dactylopid coccids into five tribes, places them all in the sub- 

 family Coccince and makes the Dactylopiince the last tribe. 



In Mrs. Fernald's catalogue the gall-making coccids are placed in this 

 sub-family. From a careful study of our peculiar forms I consider that they 

 are entitled to a distinct division, and am therefore placing them in the sub- 

 families BrachyscelincB and Idiococcince. 



The dactylopid coccids are well represented in Australia by many fine 

 indigenous species peculiar to our flora, and other introduced species. Speak- 

 ing generally, there are no very serious orchard pests found in this division 

 in Australia, though some of our native plants and shrubs are sometimes 

 badly infested, especially when the shrubs are grown under c Itivation. 

 Introduced with young trees into New Zealand Eriococcus coriaceous^ 

 without its natural parasites in Australia, did serious damage in their 

 plantations. 



The following genera are represented in Austraha : • — Genus XXVII 

 Aster olecanium, XXVIII Lecaniodaspis, XXIX Cerococcus, XXX Kerme.^^ 

 XXXI Rhizococcus, XXXII Gossyparia, XXXIII Eriococcus, XXXIV 

 Pseudoripersia, XXXV Erium, XXXVI Dactylopius, XXXVII Pseudo- 

 coccus, XXXVIII Ourococcus, XXXIX Epicoccus, XL Lachnodius, XLI 

 Ripersia, XLII Antonina. 



