123 



I have 



given 



a description of the insect, and have also 



added figures of the antenna, proboscis and anterior tarsus in order 

 to facilitate its identification by those who may be interested in 

 the study of these somewhat obscure insects. 



Rhizobius menthae, Pass. 



Females and developmental stages living in aggregated masses 

 of densely felted or flocculent secretion on the underground stems 

 and roots of the food-plant. The flocculent matter is pure white, 

 but extremely fragile, and is usually formed upon the underground 

 stems and roots, more especially the former, where there are small 

 cavities in the surrounding soil. Isolated sacs sometimes occur, 

 and these are irregularly spheroid in shape. 



Apterous adult female dull orange yellow, sometimes with a 

 pale reddish tinge, especially on the dorsum. Legs, antennae and 

 proboscis smoky brown, articulations black. The integument, in 

 life, is covered with a fine thin coating of meal-like secretion, but 

 this does not obscure the colour of the integument. Antenna 

 (Fig. 1) slightly tapering, of five segments ; 1st much the broadest, 

 3rd, 4th and 5th with irregular rings of minute spines and a few 

 larger spines ; apical segment emarginnte, the emargination with 

 a- tuberculate process which is partly hidden by a fringe of wavy 



Legs (Fig. 2) short stout, sparsely spinose ; first tarsal 



hairs. 



segment with a longer spine than those on the other segments of 



the leg. Proboscis (F 



that of the anterior leg, but slightly stouter at the base. Compound 

 spinnerets large, compact, much depressed, and arranged in a 

 double irregular series in groups of from 7-11 in number. The 

 derm is also furnished with a few minute spines which are widely 

 separated and irregularly placed. 





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2 



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3 



1 



Jihizebive menthae. 



