Maskell. — On Coccidge. 299 



fically separixtecl from D. calyptroides, the differences men- 

 tioned by Comstock being, first, a slight variation of colom", 

 and, secondly, slight variations in the spinnerets. I cannot 

 help thinking that these are not specific differences, and I 

 have frequently refrained from using them as such, and, 

 indeed, have not alv^ays made them foundations even for 

 varieties. Therefore I gave Dr. Alcock an identification of 

 his insects as D. calyptroides, var. cacti, Comstock. 



In 1893 Mr. Newstead described (Ent. Mo. Mag., 1893, 

 p. 188) an insect on cactus from Demerara as Diaspis opuntice 

 (a name which he afterwards changed to opunticola). I agree 

 with Mr. Cockerell, who (Canad. Entom., 1894, p. 127) con- 

 siders this as a variety of D. cacti; further, I believe that D. 

 023unticB, Cockerell (Journ. Inst. Jamaica, 1893, p. 256), is the 

 same species. Probably climate, or a variation of the species 

 of cactus on w'hich the insects feed, may account for the small 

 differences noticed, and I think the classification of the species 

 may be taken' as — 



D. calyptroides, Costa, 1827 ; syn. Asjndiotus echinocacti, 

 Bouche, 1833. 

 „ var. cacti, Comstock, 1883. 



„ var. opuntice, Cockerell, 1893. 



„ var. opunticola, Newstead, 1893. 



Mr. Cockerell has priority for his variety, which was pub- 

 lished before that of Mr. Newstead, so that the latter w^ill 

 disappear if the two are found to be absolutely identical. I 

 may remark that my observations have been made upon type 

 specimens of all except var. opuntice. 



Diaspis amygdali, Tryon. 



Specimens of this insect, which have been sent to me from 

 Hongkong, on geranium, are identical with a form which Mr. 

 E. E. Green sent me in 1893 on the same plant fi'om Ceylon. 

 At that time Mr. Green proposed to give the insect the name 

 of D. geranii, and I am not sure that it may not very well be 

 considered as a variety. But in his paper in "Indian Museum 

 Notes," vol. iv., No. 1, p. 3, he mentions it as D. lanata 

 (which = D. amygdali), and I will not now disturb the 

 arrangement. 



Genus Paklatoria. 



Parlatoria perpusilla, sp. nov. Plate XVIII., figs. 4-9. 



Puparium of female waxy, dark-orange-coloured, semi- 

 transparent, very convex, the base circular and in some 

 specimens with a slightly flattened margin, the form some- 

 times subspherical sometimes subconical and truncate ; the 

 height is equal to the base. The upper portion is frequently 



