Chionaspis. 119 



CHIONASPIS RHODODENDRI, sp. nov. 

 (Plate XXXVI.) 



Female puparium {Jig. 2) oblong, narrowed in front, dilated behind, often 

 irregularly curved. First pellicle very pale fulvous : second pellicle concealed 

 beneath the covering of hairs that adhere to the whole surface of the scale. 

 Secretionary area very thin and delicate ; colourless or slightly tinged with 

 ochreous, the tint being partly due to the incorporation of the leaf hairs. 

 Length V2$ to I'^o mm. Greatest breadth about 075 mm. 



Male puparium (Jig. 3) of normal form ; slightly wider behind ; indistinctly 

 tricarinate, the lateral carinae almost suppressed. Colour dead white ; pellicles 

 very pale yellowish. Length 075 mm. 



Adult female {fig. 4) oblong, widest across the median area ; in fully extended 

 examples the length exceeds twice the breadth. Colour bright pale yellow ; 

 extremity of pygidium tinged with reddish. Anterior spiracles with a small 

 group (three or four pores) of parastigmatic glands. Margins of metathorax 

 and abdominal segments slightly produced, and bearing a few oval pores ; the 

 second and third abdominal segments with two or three spiniform squames. 

 Pygidium {fig. 5) with a very prominent pair of large median lobes, their inner 

 edges in close apposition, their free outer edges together forming a semicircle 

 with finely crenulate margin. First lateral lobes duplex, small and obscure : 

 second lateral lobes obsolete. Single squames on first and fourth spaces ; 

 usually three squames on base. Marginal spines rather large and conspicuous. 

 The usual marginal pores. One or two oval dorsal pores on fourth space, and 

 a series of three or four on base. Circumgenital glands in five groups, median, 

 6 to 8 ; upper laterals, 11 to 15 ; lower laterals, 10 to 15. Anal usually slightly 

 above genital aperture ; the two apertures sometimes superimposed. Length 

 of fully extended example i to V2$ mm. Greatest breadth about o'4o. 



Adult male not observed. 



Habitat on under surface of leaves of Rhododendron arboreiim. Nuwara 

 Eliya (March, April). The position of the insects can only be detected by the 

 small yellow discoloured spots on the smooth upper surface of the leaf {fig. i). 

 The scales themselves are completely hidden beneath the densely felted hairs 

 that clothe the under surface of the leaf The male scale is similarly situated ; 

 but the posterior extremity is inclined upwards through the pilose covering of 

 the leaf, to permit the easy exit of the winged adult. 



In spite of this apparently perfect protection, a very large proportion of the 

 insects are parasitised. In fact, I have found it extremely difficult to obtain 

 uninjured examples. 



The species is nearly allied to C/i. scrobicularum^ from which it may be 

 distinguished by its more elongate form, narrower and more pointed pygidium, 

 and the scarcity of dorsal pores, as well as by its very different habitat. 



