62 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 18. 



Genus XXX. Kermes, Boitard. 



Manuel d'Entomologie, p. 171. 1828. 



Targioni-Tozzetti, Catalogue, p. 40. 1869. 



Sgnoret, Ann. Soc. Ent., France (5), vol. iv, p. 547. 1874. 



Cockerell, Canadian Entomologist, vol. xxxi, p. 276. 1899, 



Newstead, Mon. British Coccidce, vol. ii, p. 138. 1902, 



The adult females of this genus are berry or gall-shaped insects that have 

 more or less well developed legs and antennae (with a few exceptions, as in 

 Kermes acacice). They are naked, or lightly covered with secretion, the 

 antennae consisting of not more than six joints. The anal ring is not fringed 

 with hairs, and the anal tubercles are wanting or are very inconspicuous. 



The male coccid forms a felted sac or puparium. The larvae have well- 

 developed anal lobes. Newstead has figured the British species. It is from 

 several species of this genus that the valuable commercial colouring matter 

 is obtained. 



Twenty-seven species have been described from Europe and North America, 

 all of which are found upon oak trees. The single species described from 

 Australia is found upon an Acacia. 



Kermes acaeice, Maskell. 

 Trans. N. Z. Institute, vol. xxvi, p. 83, pi. iv, figs. 15-18. 1893. 



The type specimen was collected by Mr. OllifE upon the twigs of a wattle 

 {Acacia, sp.) near Sydney. I have no other record of this rare coccid. 



Adult female dark red, almost globular in form, with a small opening 

 beneath. Antennae and feet wanting. Abdominal cleft only distinguished 

 by a small cleft on the edge of the basal orifice, forming a narrow depression 

 along the dorsum to a black spot, where there is a small opening and two 

 very small lobes. The epidermis is wrinkled, after treatment in potash, 

 showing great numbers of a small conical pointed pustules. Diameter of 

 coccid i of an inch. Maskell detribes the typical larvae and considers this 

 species comes nearest to Kermes vermilio. 



232. Kermes acacice. Cat. Coccidae, p. 60. 



