The Second Protodiaspis 



E. O. ESSIG 

 SECRETARY STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE, SACRAMENTO, CAL,. 



Protoflinspis agrifolia n. sp. 

 (Figs. 1-3) 



In the year 1910 this coccid was discovered on the coast live 

 oak {Qtierctis agrifolia) in the Santa Paula Canyon (500 feet 

 altitude), near Santa Paula, Ventura County, California, by 

 S. H. Essig, brother of the writer. Material was forwarded to 

 Professor T. D. A. Cockerell, who placed it in the genus Proto- 

 diaspis, and who advised me to send specimens on to Dr. C. L. 

 Marlatt for comparison with the t\iie specimens of Protodiaspis 

 parvula Ckll. Dr. Marlatt informed the writer that it proved 

 to be a new species. In part he states: "Your No. 5 on Quercus 

 agrifolia, collected at Santa Paula and Claremont, evidently 

 belongs to Prof. Cockerell 's Protodiaspis and seems to be a new 

 species. The scale is a little more definitely formed than any 

 Protodiaspis. The insect comes very close in general features 

 to Protodiaspis parvida, but differs in some important details." 



In the year 1911 the writer took specimens of this coccid on 

 Quercus agrifolia on the Pomona College Cam]nis, Claremont, 

 California, where it occurs in abundance. Some of these speci- 

 mens were also sent to Dr. Marlatt. Some mounted specimens 

 were sent to Prof. Geo. A. Coleman, March 12, 1913, who wrote 

 under date of March 17, 1913, as follows: "I have examined 

 the coccid taken on oak at Santa Paula, and find that it belongs 

 to the genus Protodiaspis." 



In preparing this description the writer desires to acknowl- 

 edge the valuable assistance of the persons referred to above 

 and also the aid of Mr. Leroy Childs, Assistant Secretary of the 

 State Commission of Horticulture, for the many suggestions, 

 particularly with regard to the anatomical characters, which are 

 so obscure. The species is so small and the scales so obscure 

 that it has been found difficult to make a perfectly satisfactory 

 descrii)tion. 



