REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 481 



in addition, two white lines, one extending out from the fork of the subcostal and 

 the median nearly straight to the tip of the wing, and one from the base in a grad- 

 ual curve to a point some distance below the tip. Near the base of the wing below 

 is a small ear-shai)ed prolongation, folded slightly on itself, making a sort of pocket. 

 The halteres are foliate, and furnished at tip with two hooks, which fit into the 

 folded projection at base of wings. The abdomen is slightly hairy, with the joints 

 well marked, and is furnished at tip with two strong projections, each of which bears 

 at tip four long hairs and a few shorter ones. When the insect is at rest the wings 

 lie flat upon the back. 



RATE OF GROWTH OF THE DIFFERENT STAGES. 



The rate of growth of the insect necessarily depends so much upon 

 surrounding conditions, and especially on the mean temperature, that 

 it is difficult to make any definite statements as to time elapsing be- 

 tween molts or that required for other periods of the insect's growth. 

 Ko facts have hitherto been published which bear upon this point. 

 Mr. Coquillett's observations show that indiAdduals hatched from 

 eggs on the 4th of March cast the first skin on the 23d of April, and 

 underwent the last molt on the 23d of May. Mr. Koebele also re- 

 ports a case which bears upon this point, and which is interesting as 

 occurring later in the season. He placed four newly hatched larvae 

 on a healthy young orange tree, out of doors, August 5. On Septem- 

 ber 26 two of them passed through the first molt. October 10 one 

 more molted, and on October 23 the fourth cast its first skin. All 

 left the leaves after molting and settled on young twigs. IsTone of 

 tJiem had gone through the last molt vrhen he left Los Angeles, No- 

 vember 6. He was afterwards informed by ISir. Alexander Craw, of 

 Los Angeles, that nearly all of the insects were full-grown in Feb- 

 ruary, and he therefore concluded that the individuals observed by 

 him would not attain full growth before that time. 



The mature male larva requires on an average about ten days from 

 the time it begins to form the cocoon before assuming the pupa state, 

 and the pupa state lasts from two to three weeks. The more reliable 

 information we have been able to obtain, would show that at Los 

 Angeles the average number of generations each year is three. 



HABITS. 



The newly hatched larvae settle upon the leaves and tender twigs, 

 insert their beaks, and imbibe the sap. On passing into the third 

 stage they seem to prefer to settle upon the smaller twigs, although 

 a few are found upon the leaves and still fewer upon the larger 

 branches and trunk. The adults, however, almost invariably prefer 

 the trunk and largest branches. 



The insect is rarely found in any of its stages upon the fruit. 

 . The species differs markedly from most Coccidae in being active 

 during the greater part of its life, though most of the traveling is 

 done by the female immediately after the third molt and by the male 

 just before settling to make his cocoon. At these periods 'they wan- 

 der up and down the trunk and larger limbs until they find some 

 suitable place, when they settle down, the male to pupate and the 

 female to insert her beak and develop her eggs and their character- 

 istic waxy covering. She is capable of slow motion even after ovi- 

 position has commenced, but rarely does move unless from some ex- 

 ceptional cause. In thus settling after their last wanderings both 

 sexes are fond of shelter and mil get under any proiecting piece of 

 31 AG— '86 J i^ J & f 



