112 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 18. 



Genus XL! I. Antoniua, Signoret. 



Ann. Soc. Entom. de France, vol. v, p. 24. 1875. 



Newstead, Mon. British Cozcidx, vol. ii, p. 207. 1902. 



Laboulbenia, Lichtenstein, Mittheil, Schiv. Ent. Ges., vol. v, p. 229. 1878. 



The members of this genus are subterranean in their habits, attaching 

 themselves to the roots of grasses, sedges, and bamboo. A small group 

 containing eight described species from Europe, America, Japan, New 

 Zealand, and Australia. The type was described by Signoret from France 

 on the roots of a grass. Newstead defines the genus as follows : — " Adult 

 female without legs; anal lobes rudimentary; antennse atrophied, or rudi- 

 mentary; anal orifice with six hairs. Ovisac felted, or solid and wax-like. 

 Larva with the anal lobes well developed ; antennse composed of six joints, 

 and the anal orifice ^vith six hairs." 



Antonina australis, Green (Fig. 73). 

 Proc. Linn Soc. New South Wales, vol. xxix, p. 463, pi. xvi. 1904. 

 Froggatt, Agric. Gazet'e New South Waki, vol. xv, p. 407, pi. i, figs. 1-3. 1904. 



This is the well-known " nut-grass coccid " discovered on the roots of 

 nut-grass {Cyperus rotundus) in the Singleton district. New South Wales. 

 It was claimed at one time that it was a useful coccid of economic importance 

 as it only attacked the nodes of the nut-grass, which is a seiious pest in 

 fields and gardens. In some areas where the ground is not ploughed or 

 disturbed, it does to some extent check the growth of the nut-grass, but 

 only to a slight extent and chiefly in dry seasons. 



The adult female is almost globular, fitting into a cavity in the £oil 

 attached to the root, covered with white floury secretion. General colour 

 dull purple ; smooth, shining, and easily removed from the caAaty and felted 

 secretion. Length, from 2 to 3^ mm. Antennse minute consisting of two 

 irregular joints ; legs wanting. The whole surface of the body covered with 

 circular spinnerets with some small hairs. 



