SCALE INSECTS (" COCCID^ ") OF AUSTRALIA. 153 



Genus XLV, Ascelis, Schrader. 



Trans. Ent. Soc. N.S.W., vol. 1, p. 7, pi. iii, fig.s. p-x, 1862. 

 Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. France (5), vol. vi, p. 598, 1876. 

 Cockerell, Canadian Entomologist, vol. 31, p. 276, 1899. 



The adult female coccids forming globose, or flattened blister-like excres- 

 cences on the surface of the foliage of different species of eucalypts, with the 

 opening on either the upper or under surface of the infested leaf. The males 

 form no separate galls, but the male larvae remains in the parent gall, in which 

 thev go through their metamorphosis. The larvae are closely allied to those 

 of the genus Ophisthoscelis, are usually bright red, but have the basal portion 

 of the abdomen more slender. The adult coccid is simply an irregularly 

 rounded mass of yellowish jelly, enclosed in a delicate skin, with no legs or 

 antennae ; the anal segment produced into a slender cylindrical tube or tail, 

 simple or terminating in fringe like processes, which fit into the anal aperture 

 in the gall. 



Schrader's definition of the genus is simply a description of the type species 

 (Ascelis praeynollis), but it can be easily enlarged to include the other two 

 species. Cockerell has placed in this genus the remarkable gall-making coceid 

 which I placed in the genus Brachyscelis. and for which Fuller created his 

 genus Cystococcus. I have replaced it in Fuller's genus, as it is not an Ascelis, 

 and certainly stands quite alone, and is worthy of generic rank. 



In Mrs. Fernald's catalogue, Tachardia melaleuca, FiUler, is listed under 

 the name of Ascelis melalenca. 



Ascelis attenuata, Froggatt. 



Pro. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. viii, p. 214, pi. viii, figs. 4-4a, 1893. 

 Agric. Gazette N.S.W., vol. ix, p. 496, 1898. 



Blister galls upon, and aborting, the foliage of Eucalyptus jriperita at 

 Hornsby, New South Wales. The galls are circular cavities in the leaf, the 

 presence of the coccid causing the infested tissue to thicken, and yellow on 

 both sides ; the galls slightly raised above the surface of the leaf tissue, with 

 a tiny apical orifice in the centre on the upper surface of the leaf. About 

 one twenty-fourth of an inch in diameter. 



Adult female pale yellow ; an irregularly rounded, wrinkled mass, without 

 any definite appendages ; legs and antennae wanting ; anal tail very long, 

 cylindrical, truncated at the tip, and encircled at the base, with a dark brown 

 ring. 



163. Ascelis attenuata. Cat. Coccidae, p. 48. 



