SCALE INSECTS (" COCCID^ ") OF AUSTRALIA. 



Genus XIV, Pulvinaria, Targioni-Tozzetti. 



Catalogue, 1869, p. 34. 



Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. iii, p. 29, 1873. 



Newstead, Mon. British Coccidir, vol. ii, p. 50, 1903. 



The members of this genus are closely allied to those of the last. In the 

 earlier stages of the development of the female and during the whole of the 

 life-history of the male coccid they do not show any stiuctmal differences. 

 The adult female, however, when laying her eggs produces a wad of fine 

 filaments beneath, and often surrounding, but never completely enveloping 

 her on the dorsal surface. 



Newstead says : " Adult females naked, ovisac secreted at period of par- 

 turition not enveloping the insect. Puparium of male inseparable from the 

 puparia of Lecairium."' 



Sixty-one species are listed from all parts of the world, and are found upon 

 all kinds of trees, shrubs, and even small plants. They are well represented 

 n Australia. 



Pulvinaria contexta, n.sp. 

 Sj)eciirrens obtained at^ Mittagong, New South Wales, upon the tv-igs of 

 Bossiaea, sp., and DiUwynia jtmiperina. 



Adult female resting against the irregularly rounded ovisac, composed of 

 felted white filaments without any regular structure, usually half hidden 

 with the loose woolly matter in front. Length of female and ovisac, ^ inch. 

 General colour, brown. Treated with potash, transparent ; cephalic portion 

 slightly contracted, rest broadly oval, with the anal segments rounded at 

 the tips, and a very slight shallow anal cleft ; no marginal spines, and epider- 

 mis appears to be finely shagreened. Legs, slender; antennae slender, 

 rather long. 



Male puparium coi^iposed of white crystalline plates, forming a slender 

 box flattened on the dorsal surface with two parallel stria? meeting at the 

 extremities; the ends truncate above, rounded on the margin ; sides sloping 

 down, divided into sections by six fine white transveise lines or ridges. 

 Length, just under r„ inch. 



