112 



Chionaspis. 



marks the position of one of the insects. Their continued presence must be 

 very exhausting to the plant. While the palms are still small it would be 

 easy to treat them with one of the usual washes— either kerosine emulsion, 

 Strawson's mixture, or one of the other soapy emulsions mentioned in the 

 chapter on insecticides. The wash might be applied by a spraying machine, or, 

 where the number of trees to be treated is not large, better results would be 

 obtained by going over each frond with a sponge or cloth soaked in the mixture. 

 One of our large ladybird-beetles {Chilochorus circimidaius) does good 

 service in reducing the numbers of this insect, and, where they are found to be 

 present in force, they should not be disturbed by the application of washes, but 

 allowed to continue their good work, which will be more effective than any 

 artificial remedy. I have frequently found the remains of a large colony of the 

 bug in which every single scale had been opened and the contents devoured by 

 this beetle, which is equally voracious in both the larval and adult stages. Our 

 ladybird, being an indigenous species, is handicapped by the presence of its 

 own natural enemies ; but, if it could be successfully introduced into some othe 

 country, it would probably prove most useful. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXIL 



Chionaspis aspidistr^e. 



{All figures^ except No. lo, more or less enlarged^ 



Fig. I. Adult male, dorsal view. 



2. Male puparium, from above. 



3. Foot of adult male. 



4. Terminal joint of antenna of male. 

 5- Egg. 



6. Young larva. 



7. Adult female (from Acacia)., ventral view. 



8. Pygidium of female (from Fern). 



9. Adult female (from Fern), dorsal view. 



10. Piece of Fern {Thamnopteris nidus) with insects in sitit^ nat. size. 



1 1. Female puparium, early adult (from Fern). 



12. „ „ later stage „ „ 



13. „ ,, (from Cyanotis). 



14. Antenna of female (from Fern). 



15. „ „ {ixovci Acacia), 



16. Pygidium of female (from Areca). 



17. Posterior extremity of second pellicle (from Fern). 



