OBSERVATIONS ON SCALE-INSECTS (COCCIDAE) — III. 



377 



of body with long stiff bristles. Pygidium with the usual caudal setae ; median lobes 

 relatively large and rounded distally ; 2nd pair about half the length of the former, 

 but twice the width and distinctly serrated. 



Jamaica : On Pimenta officinalis {A. H. Ritchie). 



The following note was submitted with the specimens : " One property — Great 

 Valley, in the Parish of Hanover — has lost upwards of 2,000 pimento trees and I can 

 attribute no other cause than scale No. 504, which covers the trunks. It is travelling 

 on this property in the direction of the prevailing wunds and healthy trees are quite 

 free, but trees showing scale gradually begin to die back from the tips of the branches. 

 This scale is affected by a black fungus." 



This species differs from Aspidiotus bigeloviae, Ckll.,* in the number, arrangement 

 and size of the paraphyses to the pygidium, and markedly so in the form of the 

 puparium. Very few members of the Diaspinae have the puparium uptilted as in 

 this insect, and the pit-making habit is even more restricted in this group. 



Chionaspis distorta, sp. nov. 



Female puparium. White, elongate, gibbose anteriorly, attenuated posteriorly ; 

 more or less straight, curved or contorted. Larval pellicle apical, dull red-brown, 

 buft'-yellow or sometimes dull crimson, margin generally paler ; secretionary covering 

 thin, white. Second pellicle large ; colour intense rich orange-crimson, and generally 



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Fig. 2(5. Chionaspis distorta, Newst., sp. u., 2 ; a, adult : b, pygidium of the same. 

 GhionaBpis capensis, Newst., sp. n., $ ; c, fringe of pygidium ; d, antenna. 



nude ; secretionary covering, when present, thin, white. The secretionary portion 

 of the puparium is often secreted in the small crevices of the bark so that it is almost 

 completely hidden. Ventral scale rather dense under the anterior half of the female. 

 Length, 1 mm., average ; greatest width, 0*4 mm. 



* U.S. Dep. Agr. Div. Ent. Tech. Ser. No. 6., p. 20, fig. 12 (1897). 



(C357) 



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