72 



Mr. Kotinsky expressed the need of a Field Naturalists' Club. 

 He stated that there are many youths in the city who make 

 excursions to the mountains and that -f they had proper guidance 

 and instructors to accompany them good results would be obtain- 

 ed. The subject was discussed by those present. 



PAPER READ. 



Takahashia japonica (?) Ckll., a Coccid, new to Hawaii. 



BY JACOB KOTINSKY. 



My friend, Mr. J. Kid well, has a very prolific pepper tree in 

 his yard. Some time ago he brought me larvae and pupae of 

 Lycaena collected on the plant. Recently he found a large col- 

 ony of the above Coccid on the same bush, and brought me speci- 

 mens for identification. They were thickly scattered over leaves 

 and twigs, many young just hatching and setting down for busi- 

 ness. Careful inspection of the premises failed to disclose an- 

 other' host, nor could Mr. Kidwell suggest a clue to the possible 

 origin of the insect in his yard. After saving material for the 

 collection I had the balance burned, and hope now the possible 

 pest is exterminated. 



Prof. Cockerelll characterizes this genus as follows : "Similar 

 to ordinary Pulvinaria in general structure, but forming a very 

 long, firm, cottony ovisac, which projects from the twig in a 

 curve about 17 mm. long and carrying on its end the shriveled 

 body of the female." All of these characters I find correct in 

 the specimens under consideration except the projection from 

 the twig in a curve. Specifically there is also some difference 

 from japonica as described by Prof. Cockerell, but not enough, 

 I think, from what little study I have been able to give the speci- 

 mens, to justify creation of a new species. There is for instance 

 no indication of a double jointed tarsus. Joint 3 of the anten- 

 nae is but slightly longer than 4, so that the formula is altered 

 somewhat. Outer angle of anal plates is rather sharp and 

 not rounded. 



T. japonica is recorded from Japan on mulberry. Pepper is 

 therefore a new food plant. It is also a new record for the Ter- 

 ritory. But in the last respect there are several more to come. 



(1). Bull. 4, Tech. Ser., Div. Ent., U. S. D. A., p. 47, 1896. 

 Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc, II, No. 2, Sept., 1909. 



