1912.| E. E. GREEN: Coccidae in the Indian Museum. 71 
prevents an accurate determination of its dimensions, but I 
estimate that its total length cannot have been more than 2 mm., 
while M. capensis measures approximately 6 mm. in length, and 
M. triment 4°5 mm.: the length of M. formicarum is given, by 
Signoret, as 5 mm. Size, however, appears to be an unreliable 
character. Giard, in his ‘‘ Third note on the genus Margarodes,” 
remarks: ‘‘ According to the conditions of nutrition in which the 
nymph finds itself, the latter is able to transform itself into an 
adult female of very different sizes. Certain adult females of 
M. vitium are no more than 2 mm., while others attain a length 
of 5 or even 8 mm. As a result one often finds adult females 
smaller than some of the larvae.’’ 
The Indian Museum collection contains several small gather- 
ings of empty nymphal cysts of Margarodes which, in the absence 
of evidence to the contrary, may be considered to belong to this 
same species. They are described separately, according to the 
circumstances of their collection. 
(a) A small tube containing 4 cysts (immature examples). 
Label :—6804/16, Bangalore, S. India, ca. 3000 ft., 
I2-x-Ig10. ‘‘ Among weeds in Service Tank, Banga- 
lore. N. Annandale.”’ 
These examples vary in size from I to 1°75 mm. (long. 
diam.). They are irregularly ovoid: of a bright 
golden yellow colour to rich golden castaneous, with 
iridescent lustre. Shell thin: one with traces of 
overlapping scales on one side, the others without 
scales. 
(6) A tube containing about 45 cysts. Without a label, 
but believed to be part of the gathering from Service 
Tank, Bangalore. 
Size ranging from 0°75 to2 mm. Colour varying from 
very pale yellow to dark castaneous brown: inter- 
mediate forms with bright iridescent lustre. Many 
of the smaller and all the larger cysts with well- 
developed overlapping scales (fig. 9). The largest 
cyst (fig. 8) with the scales overlapping in opposite 
directions from the two extremities, possibly a 
composite cyst. Most (especially the smaller) have 
a short conical process on the lower surface, which 
probably marks the point of attachment to the root 
of some plant (fig. Io). 
(c) A small tube containing more or less fragmentary cysts 
Label :—4319/4. ‘‘ Madras, Editor of Aszan.’’ 
Length of largest example 2°55 mm. Form elongate 
oval: with large overlapping scales (fig. 11). Colour 
golden bronzy yellow, with iridescent lustre. 
(d) Small bottle containing numerous decomposed cysts 
filled with earthy matter. 
Label :—‘‘ Pearl-like globules. Received 12-xi-1891 
through Dir. L.R. & A., Bombay, from the Collector 
