SCALE INSECTS (• COCCID^ ) OF AUSTRALIA. 



91 



Genus XX.XIV. Psendoripersia, Cockerell. 



Check List Sui>ijknicnt, p. 392, footnote. 189it. 

 (.'atKuUan EnUjtuol agist, vol. xxxi. ]>. 27^. 1S!)9. 



The species that represents this genus was originally described by Maskell 

 under the name of Eriococcns turgipes, but, doubtful of its exact ])osition. he 

 afterwards placed it in the genus Ripersia, aiid also suggested it might bo 

 placed in the genus (rossi/paria. It should certainly be removed from these 

 genera, and I have therefore ado])ted Cockerells genus, tho\igh he has 

 simply defined it, " Legs extremely thick, like crab's claws."" 



Maskell in his original description gives the following details of the imique 

 species that represents the genus : "' Adult female enclosed in a leathery sac 

 ■odth an o])ening in the centre of the dorsal surface. Antenna' comjiosed of 

 six joints. General form circular.' with the stout short aborted legs standing 

 out round the margin. Anal tubercles very small; 

 anal ring com])ound, with six hairs. The outline of 

 the insect being circular, the six feet are ])laced at 

 equal distances, so that the anterior j)air are in front 

 of the rostrum, and the posterior pair very far towards 

 the anal tubercles." 



Pseudoripersia turgipes, Maskell 1 ig. 66). 



Eriococcns turgipt's, Mask.. Trans, y. Zealand Iii.-tifiifi . 



vol. XXV, p. 228, pi. xiv. figs. 15-20. 1892. 

 Kipersia turgipes. Mask., Trans. X. Zeahnid Iii-^titnti . 



vol. xxix. p. 318. 1896. 



Eriococcns turcjipts. Frogjiatt. Agric. (lazitU X. S. 11 V//rx. 



p. lofi, pi. i, fig. 1. imo. 



The sacs of the adult females are attached to the 

 slender branchlets of the she-oak {Casuariva siiberosa). 

 and are common in the neighbourhood of Sydney, 

 New South Wales; sometimes single. ones stand out 

 like little wh te cocoons, but when numerous their 

 presence causes the slender branchlets of the she-oak 

 to become aborted, often curling right round the 

 coccid sac, so that it forms a cluster of knotted 

 branchlets over the tips of the infested foliage. 



Sac of adult female formed of white leathery secretion, almost globular, 

 with a more or less round opening in the centre of the back, and on the 

 underside a narrow^ slit where it is attached to the ])lant. Height, r^ of an 

 inch; length, J of an inch; but variable both in size and foim thiough com- 

 pression by the branchlets. 



Adult female almost black, nearly globular, but fiattened on the doisal 

 surface ; the feet aborted into short thickened ])rocehses quite unlike those of 

 the Eriococcns; the tibia, tarsus, and claw fused into one, with no digitules. 

 Anal tubercides very small, with one terminal seta, and a numl)er of shoit 

 conical sj)ines at the base; anal ring with six haiis. Epidermis covered with 

 fine short hairs, circular orifices, and shoit conical s])ines. 



551. Pseiidoripersin turgipes. Cat. Coccdi;e. p. 115. 



Fig. 66.— 



I'neu-lui ipei-^iii luri/i/if' 



